June 8, 2011
Q: My older son has been haranguing me for months to allow him to get an Xbox 360. He currently has a Wii but has deemed the games “stupid,” which is exactly why I allowed him to get it (with misgivings). But the games for Xbox are generally so violent that I could come up […]
January 20, 2011
Q: My two year old has no interest in watching television at all, and my friends think it’s weird. Should I be concerned?
A: No way! The scientific research we have to date supports your decision not to put her in front of an electronic screen until she turned two.
January 20, 2011
Q: How do I protect my children against what I consider to be harmful media when they are at school or on the bus?
A: Don’t leave this issue to be regulated by the bus driver, the other riders, or the school. Inform and empower your child to make sound media decisions for him or herself.
January 18, 2011
Q: Are there are any vision worries we should know about when it comes to kids watching TV or playing video games–especially 3D ones?
A: There’s little to worry about when it comes to how these 3D games affect young children’s eyesight.
January 14, 2011
Q: Are two year olds too young to see films like Tangled? What should I consider when thinking about taking my kids to the movies?
A: If what you imagine her seeing, hearing, and understanding is what you want for her to experience, then take her and enjoy it together, keeping in mind these developmental considerations.
January 11, 2011
Q: How can I keep my tween safe as she embarks on using email for the first time?
A: Choose an email provider that fits your ideal, help guide your child as she’s starting out, and learn more about what issues she might face online–and how you can help her navigate them.
January 6, 2011
Q: My kids are attached to their cell phones and laptops, and it worries me that they’re not paying as much attention to the world happening around them. How can I prevent this?
A: Talk regularly about–and set a good example of–being a responsible citizen on- and offline. We’ve got tips to get you started.
December 30, 2010
Q: What sort of media-related resolutions do you suggest for families?
A: Ones that are free, attainable, and fun to work toward! These 8 simple goals will help you tweak your family’s media use and enjoy the resulting time together.
December 28, 2010
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.
December 28, 2010
Each week this year, you asked our Mediatrician, Dr. Michael Rich, your most pressing questions about the effects of media on kids, and he answered! Here are the top 10 most-viewed Ask the Mediatrician Q&As of 2010.
But while you’re here, subscribe to the Mediatrician’s Media Rx — a weekly prescription for raising and mentoring healthy, smart, kind kids in our screen-saturated world.
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