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Nutrition & Physical Activity

The Good News about Children and Media in 2010
 The Good News about Children and Media in 2010 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: It seems like all we ever hear about are the negative effects of media. What research has been done on using media in positive ways?
A: Indeed, studies in the past year indicate just how positive media can be for children and families when it is used in a controlled way, paying particular attention to its content and the context in which it is used.

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Are kids benefiting from all these electronics?
 Are kids benefiting from all these electronics? 150 150 Mediatrics

I keep hearing how younger and younger children are being exposed to electronics, which must certainly affect their lives. But are the effects positive or negative?

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Should I worry about junk food ads on kids’ websites?
 Should I worry about junk food ads on kids’ websites? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 7-year-old son uses a lot of kid websites that seem harmless enough, but I keep hearing about junk food ads on the Internet and wonder if they will really affect him?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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My 9 year old is imitating Michael Jackson’s dance moves, how can I talk to him about it?
 My 9 year old is imitating Michael Jackson’s dance moves, how can I talk to him about it? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 9 year old son has recently started imitating Michael Jackson’s dance moves (crotch grabbing and all!). I don’t think he understands what he’s doing; how can I explain to him in a sensitive way what those moves mean?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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Can you tell me more about the recommended 1 hour media limit?
 Can you tell me more about the recommended 1 hour media limit? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: When we hear that children should not be exposed to more than 1 hour of screen time per day, does that mean that all media are created equal? For example, are watching a movie, watching an age-appropriate TV show, and playing an interactive children’s website game all the same? What are the concerns about and benefits of each?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, the Mediatrician

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How can I convince networks not to play violent commercials during family programming?
 How can I convince networks not to play violent commercials during family programming? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My husband and I are greatly concerned by the commercials that are played on television, especially during “family” events like football or NASCAR races. I have contacted the FCC and NASCAR and they said that I basically have to contact each network one by one to voice my concerns. Where can I find information backing up my concerns that these types of visual images are harmful to my young children?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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Does spending time in front of screens really raise kids’ blood pressure?
 Does spending time in front of screens really raise kids’ blood pressure? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I heard a report on the news that too much time in front of TV or computer screens can raise kids’ blood pressure. Is that just for more action-oriented shows and games? And is even a little screen time a problem for kids’ hearts?

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What should I do about video games on playdates?
 What should I do about video games on playdates? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My son is entering 3rd grade and is an only child. When he has playdates at his friends’ homes, sometimes the moms allow video games above my son’s age level, usually because my son’s friends have older siblings. It makes me uncomfortable, but I’ve noticed that a lot of parents don’t appreciate it when I ask that they not play any video games during the playdate—it’s viewed as trying to control what happens in their home, or as some judgment upon them for allowing the younger child to play age-inappropriate games. I don’t want to tell my son he can never go to their houses, so do you have any advice? I usually try to have kids over to my house so that it’s not an issue, but at some point, the other parents want my son to come to their home.

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How do I deal with inappropriate commercials during sports television?
 How do I deal with inappropriate commercials during sports television? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Recently, my children started singing the jingle from a commercial for an erectile dysfunction drug. I was shocked. Then I remembered that we had seen the ad during a baseball game on TV, and that I had thought it had gone over their heads. What should I do?

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How much TV is too much TV?
 How much TV is too much TV? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: The television is a constant source of conflict in our house. I am always battling with my 2nd and 5th grade kids about how much TV they watch, but I’m not even sure what a good limit would be. How much TV is too much TV?

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