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Will new, graphic tobacco health warnings affect kids?
 Will new, graphic tobacco health warnings affect kids? 150 150 Mediatrics

CMCH staff contributed the following post to Thriving, Children's Hospital Boston's pediatric health blog, in response to questions about how the FDA's newly released requirements for cigarette packaging might affect kids. Q: Will new, graphic tobacco health warnings affect kids? A: Last week, the FDA released new requirements for labels on cigarette packaging, which will…

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How can I tactfully ask our family not to give my kids character toys?
 How can I tactfully ask our family not to give my kids character toys? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I don’t want to seem ungrateful, and I know my children would probably like the Dora or Batman version of toys, but I just find that sort of commercialism unnecessary. How can I tell my family that we’d prefer they not get the character versions of toys when giving my kids gifts?
A: Let your family know how important it is to you that your child make up her own stories during plattime instead of having her playtime scripted by pre-digested plotlines.

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Do models in ads affect how girls feel about their own bodies?
 Do models in ads affect how girls feel about their own bodies? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 10 year old daughter loves reading teen magazines but I don’t want her to think she has to look like just the tiny models in the ads to be valued. How can I talk to her about this?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®

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Can kids and teens help each other use media safely and wisely?
 Can kids and teens help each other use media safely and wisely? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Much of the discussion on kids’ media use centers, appropriately, on parent involvement. I’m wondering, though, are there ways kids and teens can help each other use media safely and wisely?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®

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How are toys marketed differently to boys and girls?
 How are toys marketed differently to boys and girls? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Can you tell me more about how toys get marketed differently to boys and to girls?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician ®

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Racy magazine covers seem to be everywhere — how can we object?
 Racy magazine covers seem to be everywhere — how can we object? 150 150 Mediatrics

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

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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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Disney is offering full refunds for Baby Einstein videos–should I turn mine in?
 Disney is offering full refunds for Baby Einstein videos–should I turn mine in? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I hear that Disney is offering full refunds for Baby Einstein videos, but I don’t really understand why. I received some of these videos as baby shower gifts and my 7-month-old son seems to enjoy them. What do you recommend?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, the Mediatrician

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Are American Girl dolls a better choice for my niece than the more sexualized Barbies or Bratz?
 Are American Girl dolls a better choice for my niece than the more sexualized Barbies or Bratz? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I wondered if the Center has any research on the American Girls phenomenon. Unlike Barbies and Bratz, these dolls are not sexualized, and they also have connections to history and culture through each doll’s storybook. I am guessing that they are probably a better alternative for playtime fantasies (at least for families who can afford them — the dolls cost $95 each). But they are also linked to all kinds of merchandising, encouraging families to buy accessories like furniture, clothes, and even pets to go along with them (also pricey). What do you think about the pros and cons? My niece is 8 years old and I am thinking ahead to the holiday season.
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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