Do violent video games affect my 18-month-old son?
February 1, 2010
Q: When my son is at his babysitter’s house, there are violent video games being played. Should I be concerned?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®
Do violent video games affect my 18-month-old son?
Does my 7-year-old grandson play too many computer games with his dad?
January 25, 2010
Q: My 7-year-old grandson comes home from visits with his dad talking non-stop about a computer game marked for ages 10+ that they play together. What would be a good amount of time for him to be allowed to play a game like this, and can it cause him to become addicted?
Kids use media for almost 8 hours a day — Now what?
January 21, 2010
Yesterday the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report detailing just how much media kids are using. Dr. Michael Rich, The MediatricianSM, was interviewed on NBC Nightly News, and the Center on Media and Child Health sent out the following in email to parents today.
Is it okay that my 11-year-old son is obsessed with driving video games?
January 20, 2010
Q: My 11-year-old son is obsessed with Formula 1 driving video games. Is this okay? What might be the potential dangers be?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician
Can toddlers learn sign language by watching DVDs?
January 15, 2010
Q: In an NPR interview, you stated that children under the age of 30 months do not learn anything about language from TV programs, but I disagree. My 17-month-old daughter has watched a baby signing language DVD series and now knows about 80 signs. I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter.
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician
Response to controversy over violent video game answer
January 14, 2010
Recently, I answered a question from a mother asking whether she should purchase the video game Call of Duty for her son. When the answer was featured on Thrive, the Children’s Hospital Boston blog, it ignited controversy and spurred many gamers to comment. Here is my response.
Racy magazine covers seem to be everywhere — how can we object?
January 11, 2010
Q: I am shocked to see the cover photos of popular magazines bordering on soft-porn. How do I object without sounding like I’m overreacting?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician
Is playing violent video games a healthy way to deal with tragedy?
January 7, 2010
Q: My nephew and niece’s mother died due to a tragic accident. She was shot by her 13-year-old son. How can I tell if they are dealing with this tragedy in a healthy way? He continues to play violent video games with graphic shooting and killing people. Is this normal behavior?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician
Q: Do kids experience media differently than adults do?
January 4, 2010
Q: Am I correct that we give children a different dose of medicine not just because they weigh less but because they process it differently? Is it the same with media?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician
My son wants Call of Duty, but how do these video games impact teen boys?
December 29, 2009
Q: All my son wants is the videogame Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. How do these games impact teen boys? Are there any positive impacts? What’s a parent to do?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician