Children’s experience of Maltese drama television programmes

Abstract

Television is one of the main sources of entertainment spanning all age groups. In Malta, drama programmes in particular have established a substantial audience including young children. This evoked the main focus question for this research, namely, the need to study the experience that children undergo upon watching these programmes. The word ‘experience’ focuses on the kind of programmes children watch, where they do so and with whom they watch and discuss them. This qualitative study was carried out with gender-mixed children aged 8-9. The data was obtained through three focus groups carried out in state schools. From the resultant information, it was observed that these children are watching local programmes regularly; that most of them watch TV all alone, and that they do not discuss their viewings with an adult. Such results can be disquieting and call for more media education among the public, including parents, guardians, teachers and even children themselves. This research also served an educational purpose, since students and parents were provided with the information and resources on rating; but from the results obtained, there arises the need for greater media literacy, perhaps enhanced with legislation and enforcement, in order to protect the child who may be viewing these local television shows.