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Desensitization

Fortnite
What should I know about Fortnite – is it ok for kids to play?
 What should I know about Fortnite – is it ok for kids to play? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: Can you please offer guidance on Fortnite? It seems to be all that kids 11-14 are doing these days. I do not allow my children to play, but saw my godson play and was horrified – the guns all look real, but the deaths show no blood. As a person who grew up in…

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First Person Shooter Games
I’m 14-years old and don’t like playing first-person shooter games like my friends – what should I do?
 I’m 14-years old and don’t like playing first-person shooter games like my friends – what should I do? 750 250 Mediatrics

Q: I am 14 years old, and currently debating my choice of friends. They all play first-person shooter (FPS) games, while I choose other kinds of games. They often tell me how great their games are but criticize mine. When they clamor for the new Call of Duty, I freak out over the new Sonic…

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Should I let my 13-year-old stream his Call of Duty gameplay?
 Should I let my 13-year-old stream his Call of Duty gameplay? 750 250 Mediatrics

Q: My 13-year-old son began playing Call of Duty at home beginning in January of this year. We monitor his gaming and have him turn it off after a certain amount of time. He is now asking to “stream” with one of his favorite online players who does this on YouTube regularly. I am concerned…

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How can I help children cope when their losses are being broadcast in the news?
 How can I help children cope when their losses are being broadcast in the news? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My youngest daughter is friends with two girls whose mother has been reported missing. The circumstances don’t look very hopeful. I have a background in helping children cope with grief and loss (and teaching others who are helping children cope), but ​other than advising them to stay away from social media, newspapers, and internet (which…

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How can I keep my kids from being frightened by scary media this Halloween?
 How can I keep my kids from being frightened by scary media this Halloween? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My kids (10 and 7) have been invited to a number of Halloween-themed parties this year that are being held at their schools and at the homes of a few of their friends. Several of these parties will have scary movies, scary music, and in one case (the school’s) a dramatic reading of a…

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The Mediatrician’s response to a recent New York Times article on Media Violence
 The Mediatrician’s response to a recent New York Times article on Media Violence 150 150 Mediatrics

After reading a recent article in the New York Times about the connection between media violence and aggression in real life, Dr. Michael Rich felt compelled to respond, writing the following letter to the editor: Asking whether video games “cause” violent behavior is asking the wrong question. As a parent, I constantly make risk-benefit analyses…

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Will playing hunting video games cause my son to be more aggressive and desensitize him to violence?
 Will playing hunting video games cause my son to be more aggressive and desensitize him to violence? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Hello, I am the mother of a 10-year-old boy. We don’t allow violent video games in the house, but we do allow him to play first-person shooter hunting games (Duck Hunter, Cabela’s, Big Buck Hunter, etc.), which he loves, especially as he takes a hunting trip with his father every year. My fear is…

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How can I tell if I am being too strict with my kids’ media?
 How can I tell if I am being too strict with my kids’ media? 150 150 Mediatrics

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,…

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Response to controversy over violent video game answer
 Response to controversy over violent video game answer 150 150 Mediatrics

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.

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Why do different kids respond differently to media violence?
 Why do different kids respond differently to media violence? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My boys, now 15 & 17, are so different. I’ve noticed that my two kids can watch the same violent programs and, depending on each child’s nature, they respond differently. Is it true that after viewing violent programs, some children will behave more aggressively while some children become more fearful? If yes, can you explain how that happens? Any chance that some children are not affected at all?
Answer from Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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