Close
Enter your
text here

Brain Development

Will sitting close to the TV hurt my kids’ eyes?
 Will sitting close to the TV hurt my kids’ eyes? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I have an son who’s 11 and a daughter who’s 9½, and for many years, they have sat close to the TV when watching. I have asked them to sit farther away, and they do move back maybe a foot…but they always go back to viewing the show close up, even if the screen…

read more
Are static images on TV harmful to toddlers?
 Are static images on TV harmful to toddlers? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: When our 14-month-old son was born, his pediatrician told us to avoid screen time, so we do not allow him to watch TV and we rarely have it on while he is awake. But, we subscribe to a music service that streams through the TV. When the songs play, the album covers are shown…

read more
How can I limit my teen’s Internet time without distracting him from homework or invading his privacy?
 How can I limit my teen’s Internet time without distracting him from homework or invading his privacy? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 16-year-old son uses the computer constantly at home in his room and almost always claims he is doing homework. He doesn’t want me to look over his shoulder and see what he is doing when I come into his room, and frankly, I want to allow him his privacy when he is on the…

read more
Are 3D video games safe for kids’ vision?
 Are 3D video games safe for kids’ vision? 150 150 Mediatrics

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.

read more
Should kids with central auditory processing disorder play video games?
 Should kids with central auditory processing disorder play video games? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: We believe that we need to have our child tested for central auditory processing disorder. Is there any correlation between this condition and video game playing?
A: Though extraneous noises are distracting for kids with APD, video games may actually help them focus. But it’s your job to set limits on the amount of game play.

read more
What do kids learn from TV shows, like ‘Pingu’, that don’t have dialogue?
 What do kids learn from TV shows, like ‘Pingu’, that don’t have dialogue? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Are shows like ‘Pingu’ that have no dialogue a better media option for young kids because they require a little bit more interaction and cognitive activity on the part of the viewer?
A: They certainly can be: ‘Pingu’ teaches kids how to decipher a visual story and to respond to it in their own imaginative, creative ways.

read more
Why should my family participate in Turnoff Week?
 Why should my family participate in Turnoff Week? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Why should my family participate in Turnoff Week?
A: TV, video games, and computers have become so common that, for many families, they are a default activity, rather than a choice they make about how they want to spend their time. It is not just cramming facts into children’s brains, but giving them the unstructured “down time” to process those facts and come to their own conclusions, that will give them the richest environment in which to develop.
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®

read more
Are violent games more damaging for children with a central auditory processing disorder?
 Are violent games more damaging for children with a central auditory processing disorder? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: We just found out that our 6-year-old son has a central auditory processing disorder. We do not have TV or video games in our house, but when he visits friends’ houses, they sometimes play the older brother’s extremely violent video games, such as Call of Duty. Since there are fewer screens in our house,…

read more
What goes on in the brain during a 3D movie?
 What goes on in the brain during a 3D movie? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I just saw Avatar and I was wondering – do scientists know anything about how 3D movies are processed by children’s brains?

read more
Could speech delays be related to TV watching?
 Could speech delays be related to TV watching? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I am a speech therapist, and a large percentage of the children with speech delays whom I treat are allowed to “graze” on TV all day. Is there a connection?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician ®

read more