How can I tell if I am being too strict with my kids’ media?

• September 21, 2012

Q: I have 4 boys (ages 11, 9, 9, and 7), and I am rather strict about limiting their screen time: We don’t allow any during the school week, and on the weekend, we allow the boys 1 hour per day. I have also told my oldest son that when he is at someone else’s house, he is not allowed to play games like Halo and Call of Duty—he will be allowed to play them when he reaches the game’s recommended age. This puts him in an awkward position with his friends. Am I being too strict?

–Call of Parental  Duty

A: Dear Call,

I am sure that your sons think you’re too strict, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing—kids need parents to set boundaries, even when they don’t like those boundaries. Knowing how media can affect your children (both positively and negatively) can help you make informed decisions about what boundaries to set around media use.

Research supports the limits you’ve set: Studies show that children who watch television for extended periods of time are at greater risk for sleep disturbances and obesity. They show that individuals who repeatedly play violent video games can become desensitized to both virtual and real-world violence and that they do less well in school.

To move beyond “strict-mom” dynamic and help your sons learn to manage their time and focus their media use, make your sons part of the rule-making process. Sit down with them and collaborate on budgeting their time use, including media time. Then, talk about what kinds of media to use—or not use—during that time. That may be difficult for them, but challenge them to get creative. If your oldest keeps talking about COD and Halo, ask him what he likes about those games and why he thinks you might be concerned about him playing them. When your son is going to hang out with friends, brainstorm with him beforehand about what other fun things they could do. You may want to discuss alternative activities with the parents of your sons’ friends – while many parents hesitate to talk about media use, those who do often find that other parents are seeking strategies themselves and grateful for the dialogue.

Finally, instead of focusing on a game’s recommended age (a rating decided by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, part of the video game industry), look at the game yourself and decide whether you want your sons to experience and learn from it. Understanding your sons’ personalities—and knowing that they will learn from and be changed by the media they use—can help you work with them to set developmentally appropriate expectations.

Enjoy your media and use them wisely,

The Mediatrician®