As adults, we depend on "The News" as our primary source for information about the world we live in. Whether it's the local newspaper, nightly TV newscasts, cable news networks, news radio, or Web sites, graphic footage and accounts of the latest happenings in the world are being delivered right into our homes 24 hours a day. This constant barrage can be overwhelming for adults, but it can be especially confusing and frightening for young children.

It's no wonder the news can be enticing to children. The average news broadcast contains as much violence, sex and action as many of the most popular entertainment shows on TV. But unlike those shows, the news is real. News shows can show or say things that might be too graphic or intense for entertainment programs.

As a parent, only you can decide what news is appropriate for your children. Used properly, the news can teach children many positive things about the world. Knowledge and understanding of news events can teach kids a sense of belonging and social responsibility. Most elementary school teachers require kids to follow certain news stories for weekly current events lessons. Additionally, many literacy programs encourage parents and kids to read the newspaper together to develop language skills and healthy reading habits.

Few parents would allow a child to fill up on an all-chocolate food diet. Thinking about your child's exposure to the news in the same terms can be helpful. It's important to make sure kids have a balanced news diet. The best way to achieve this is to know your child's news environment, that is when, where and what kind of news your child is exposed to. Is your daughter listening to news radio while you drive her to school in the morning, or is she watching crime scene footage on TV news shows that follow her favorite afternoon cartoon?

Whatever the case, balance your child's news diet by setting clear limits. Make it known to your son that he can only watch the news when you are in the room to watch with him, or limit him to only news sources that are less violence-oriented, like network newscasts. Experience the news with your child, and balance his news diet by talking with him about what he sees.

The same way a nutritious diet, rich with plenty of fruits and vegetables, helps promote healthy growth for kids' bodies, a balanced news diet, rich in communication and the perspective parents provide, promotes growth for their minds.

We at InformedYouth take pride in helping parents educate today's youth on matters of world importance. Each news article is very carefully crafted by our team of expert content writers. We provide enough back ground information for the kids to understand a given topic thoroughly. We understand that today's youth is very busy and that is why we are very careful about the time she need to spend reading a day's article. Our news articles are concise still covering the necessary background information.

Each news article is followed by a set of questions to test their level of understanding. When a kid answers these questions, the answers are emailed to parents. This opens up a channel of communication between parents and kids.

Content delivered at InformedYouth.com is neutral and unbiased. The team of writers has no political or religious agenda to promote nor is it obliged to follow an editorial line that has political, ethnic, cultural, economic or social pressures of any kind.

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