Get involved with your child’s reading
Reading with children is something that most parents do when your children are very young. But how do you keep an eye on what they read as they grow older? By simply continuing to be involved in their reading lives. MDA has some tools to help you stay engaged with your children’s reading habits.
Educate yourself on publications and guidelines
There is a wide variety of magazines in the market to cater to different age groups and tastes, including general lifestyle magazines, adult interest lifestyle magazines, magazines for teenagers, and comics and graphic novels. Here’s a general list of different types of publications available in Singapore.
Did you know that local publications are not pre-vetted, but are self regulated by the industry? MDA issues a set of content guidelines for local and imported publications developed in consultation with citizens consultative panel members for industry’s use. Click to access the guidelines for imported publications and the guidelines for audio materials.
Consumer Advice
Consumer Advice for publications comes in the form of labels on covers that read “Unsuitable for the Young”. Aimed at adult readers, the publications that carry the consumer advice feature themes, content and images that are not suitable for teenagers and young children.
What is the use of this consumer advice? The consumer advice helps adults and parents make informed choices for themselves and their children. These publications are shrink wrapped when they are on display at newsstands and bookshops to limit access to the young by preventing browsing. Below are some examples of magazines carrying the consumer advice.
Examples of magazines that are shrink wrapped and carry the consumer advice include imported titles such as the UK version of GQ, CLEO Australia, and Cosmopolitan. Local lifestyle magazines, being self-regulated, do occasionally also feature the consumer advice when the content warrants it.
Happy Reading!
More information about regulating publications can be found here.
Audio advisories: getting involved with your child’s listening
How do you advise your children on responsible listening of audio music? Audio music may be unsuitable for young children because of the excessive use of sexual references or profane language. The industry is advised to carry a consumer advice similar to publications to alert consumers and parents. Some audio CDs imported from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia also carry their own similar advisories that parents can make use.
Parent can also help children understand thet music, movies, and games should not be downloaded illegally because this is considered an infringement of copyright.
Learn more about ratings and consumer advice for the various media