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Education & Learning

Tween bedroom technology devices
How do we get the laptops, smartphones and tablets out of our kids’ bedrooms?
 How do we get the laptops, smartphones and tablets out of our kids’ bedrooms? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: We would like to get devices (smartphones, laptops, kindles, tablets) out of our kids’ bedrooms, but we don’t know how to do this. They use their laptops for homework and smartphones for music and as alarm clocks. Do you have any good suggestions on how to implement this change? Our oldest is now 18 and…

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Three different aged children with laptop
Are websites like “Animal Jam” appropriate for tweens and young children?
 Are websites like “Animal Jam” appropriate for tweens and young children? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: Is Animal Jam an appropriate website for tweens and children as young as 5-year-olds? As a parent and librarian, I am concerned by a number of Animal Jam’s features, such as pushing players to purchase items within the website, and am skeptical as to the site’s “educational” value, even though it is associated with National…

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preschooler dad tablet
What is the best way to introduce screen media to our three-and-a-half-year-old?
 What is the best way to introduce screen media to our three-and-a-half-year-old? 750 250 Mediatrics

Q: What is the appropriate way to introduce screen media to our three-and-a-half-year-old son? We don’t own a TV, and our son’s exposure to screens has been limited to occasionally taking photos and video and watching Curious George on our smartphones once or twice a week, as a reward, for 10-30 minutes. He’s a very happy…

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Media Education Literacy
Are there studies demonstrating that media education benefits children/teens?
 Are there studies demonstrating that media education benefits children/teens? 750 250 Mediatrics

Q: Our school is considering adding media education to the curriculum, but some board members want “evidence” of its benefit. Can you recommend any studies that clearly demonstrate that media education helps children/teens? – Reaching for Research, USA A: Dear Reaching, You are right to want to have media education (often called media literacy education)…

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Boys playing DS
I’m part of a mom’s group that discusses family media management – How should I answer questions about whether or not to expose kids to video games?
 I’m part of a mom’s group that discusses family media management – How should I answer questions about whether or not to expose kids to video games? 750 250 Mediatrics

Q: I am part of a moms’ group that puts on monthly parent meetings in an effort to educate parents about the issues surrounding screen time in the home. In our next meeting, we will be focusing on video gaming, and I would like your advice on how to handle the inevitable parental question: “If…

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Kids school laptops
My 8 year old is being given a laptop for school – what should I do?
 My 8 year old is being given a laptop for school – what should I do? 750 250 Mediatrics

Q: My 8 year old is being given a laptop by her public school. While I do understand the benefits, I have serious concerns about such a young child having minimally supervised online access at school and at after-school care. The school laptops do not even come with any tracking software or restrictions. At home,…

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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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Facebook logo
My six-year-old’s class is opening a Facebook account – what should I do?
 My six-year-old’s class is opening a Facebook account – what should I do? 750 250 Mediatrics

Q: My 6 year-old daughter’s class is opening a Facebook account. They are spinning it as an “exciting new way to expose 1st graders to social media” and to help them learn to use it responsibly at a young age. The class will post photos, news, and videos of the children, and parents and relatives can read…

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How can I help my daughters shift their media routine into back-to-school mode?
 How can I help my daughters shift their media routine into back-to-school mode? 750 250 Mediatrics

Q: I have two daughters, 8 and 6, who will be returning to school this September. I tend to be fairly liberal with the rules around media use during the summer, but this year both girls will be receiving iPads from their schools to use for classwork and homework. I’m concerned about getting the girls…

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When school is online, how much screen time is too much?
 When school is online, how much screen time is too much? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I teach for an online school that serves students in 4th through 12th grades. All of our lesson content is web-based, and the school would like to add three hours of synchronous lesson delivery four days a week. I believe that the school is trying to satisfy the parent desire for face-to-face contact between…

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