TV & Movies

small child watering indoor plants
How can my kids experience nature during lockdown?
How can my kids experience nature during lockdown? 1024 443 Mediatrics

Q: I live in a high-rise apartment and am the father of two girls, ages 4 and 7. Before living in lockdown due to COVID-19, the girls and I would play outside nearly every day at a local park, and often go on nature adventures on weekends. The lockdown was recently extended and I worry that…

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joker character at mirror
The Joker
The Joker 959 460 Mediatrics

Q: There’s a lot of hype around the new Joker movie and its portrayal of violence and the potential it has to incite people to act violently. I know it’s a common argument, but given your experience and expertise, do you think the entertainment industry bears any responsibility when it comes to people acting violently…

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Should I take my eighth grader to see the R-rated movie, Eighth Grade?
Should I take my eighth grader to see the R-rated movie, Eighth Grade? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: I’ve heard a lot of wonderful things about the new movie, Eighth Grade and my daughter, who is an eighth grader this school year has been asking to see it. I’d like to take her, but am worried and a bit confused by the movie’s R-rating. Is it ok for her to see it?…

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13 Reasons Why Season 2
Is it ok to let my child watch the second season of 13 Reasons Why?
Is it ok to let my child watch the second season of 13 Reasons Why? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: My fourteen-year-old wants to watch the new season of 13 Reasons Why. Although she read the book, I didn’t allow her to watch the first season, given the controversy surrounding its depiction of suicide. I’m thinking that it might be ok for her to watch now that she is in high school and because…

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Teenage boy using his cell phone while his mother looks at him with a worried expression
How can I help my teen focus and stop procrastinating with media?
How can I help my teen focus and stop procrastinating with media? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: My 17 year-old son spends 4-5 hours at a time on YouTube, clicking endlessly from one sports comedy show to another. He is doing okay in high school, but will binge-watch or follow links from site to site until the wee hours. I can’t get him to put the phone or laptop down. I…

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Harry Potter Books Movies
Is it ok to read the Harry Potter books to my 10 and 7-year-old and watch the movies?
Is it ok to read the Harry Potter books to my 10 and 7-year-old and watch the movies? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: I have been reading the Harry Potter series to my children ages 10 and 7. We’ve read the first and second book and watched the corresponding movies. Both my kids love the series and want to continue reading and watching. I’ve read a lot of varying opinions about the age-appropriateness of both the books…

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Thirteen Reasons Why Netflix
Should I let my child watch the Netflix show, 13 Reasons Why?
Should I let my child watch the Netflix show, 13 Reasons Why? 750 300 Mediatrics

Es En Espanol Q: My daughter is 13 and an eighth grader in middle school. Her friends have recently become obsessed with the Netflix show, 13 Reasons Why. I haven’t read the book or watched the show, but have been seeing a few news articles that worry that the show may be dangerous for kids to watch…

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Woman with child at laptop
How can I best use media with children on the autism spectrum?
How can I best use media with children on the autism spectrum? 750 315 Mediatrics

Es En Espanol Q: I’m a Social Worker who works with children ages 7-18 on the autism spectrum. Many of the kids that I work with interpret what they see in TV and movies as representative of real life situations and how people behave – unfortunately, this kind of rigid, literal thinking often leads to problems…

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Media Forbidden Fruit
How can I avoid making media into a “forbidden fruit” for my kids?
How can I avoid making media into a “forbidden fruit” for my kids? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: I was able to attend a community presentation you gave about children and screen time. During your talk, you discouraged parents from setting screen time limits because doing so makes media into “forbidden fruit”, or increasingly tempting for kids. In my house, we often take away TV or iPad time from our kids (ages…

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Should I worry that my 6-year-old will be picked on for the kiddie TV shows he watches?
Should I worry that my 6-year-old will be picked on for the kiddie TV shows he watches? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: My 6-year-old-son loves to watch shows for younger kids, his favorite show is Paw Patrol which he will watch repeatedly. He has Global Development Delay, and may also have ADHD. I’ve spoken with his pediatrician about the shows he watches and she said that if he likes shows and toys geared towards younger children…

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