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Education & Learning

Do violent and sexual media affect suburban kids’ attitudes toward sex?
 Do violent and sexual media affect suburban kids’ attitudes toward sex? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Can a weekly diet of violent and sexual media for teens from good families affect their attitudes and behaviors when they’re in college, contributing to the high numbers of college sexual assaults?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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Is there anything wrong with cutting out electronic media completely?
 Is there anything wrong with cutting out electronic media completely? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My parents didn’t have a TV in the house when I was growing up and I didn’t get a stereo until I was a teenager. We read and played outside and I didn’t think I was deprived as a kid. It seems like what is out there now, in terms of violence, sex, and taking risks, is far worse than when I was a kid. Is there anything wrong with just cutting out electronic media completely from my kids’ lives?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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Is it OK to use cartoons to keep my 5-month-old busy while I do things around the house?
 Is it OK to use cartoons to keep my 5-month-old busy while I do things around the house? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I have a question about my five month old daughter and TV. She likes to watch E/I cartoons. Is it ok for me to let her watch them when I have things around the house I need to do? If allowing her to watch cartoons is not good for her, what are other activities I can do to keep her occupied so I can get things done? Answer by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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Which computer games are good for my 2 year old?
 Which computer games are good for my 2 year old? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I’ve introduced my 22-month-old son to a computer program designed for babies that makes shapes and plays a sound every time a button is pushed. Lately, I’ve noticed that he is becoming more thoughtful about it. He used to just bang at the keys, but now he pushes one button at a time and watches what happens on the screen. For his birthday, I’ve been looking for an age-appropriate game that involves more thought. I have found a few games that are marked for 2 years and up, but they seem mostly targeted at kids closer to age 3 than 2. Do you have any suggestions?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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How will TV affect our 3-month-old?
 How will TV affect our 3-month-old? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Our 3-month-old son stares at the TV intensely, like he knows what he’s watching. Are there any effects because he’s so young?

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How do I know when my child is ready for TV?
 How do I know when my child is ready for TV? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I read your response about baby videos and learning, and I’m wondering — Rather than relying on age, is there some developmental signal that indicates a child can handle/process television and such?

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Is it okay for my kids to fall asleep in front of the TV?
 Is it okay for my kids to fall asleep in front of the TV? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My children like to watch TV before bed, and they often fall asleep while it’s still on. I have a feeling that that’s not good for them, but I’m not sure why. Can you offer any guidance?

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How should parents introduce TV to their kids after they turn 2?
 How should parents introduce TV to their kids after they turn 2? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I am an educator, and I often recommend to parents that they follow the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for no TV under age 2. I’d love to be able to tell parents how to go about introducing TV to kids after they turn 2. What do you recommend I say to them?

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How can we set good examples of media use for our kids?
 How can we set good examples of media use for our kids? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My child is still an infant, so he isn’t using much media yet. But I am realizing that my husband and I are constantly “connected”! Our laptops, cell phones, and iPods are always on, mostly for work reasons. How should we limit our own media use to set the best example for our children?

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Should I worry about the violent video games my son plays?
 Should I worry about the violent video games my son plays? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 10 year old son loves to play video games. The other day I happened to see a few minutes of one of the games he was playing and it was much more violent than I thought it would be. Should I worry about how these games affect him?

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