Does playing the blues cause the blues?
December 17, 2009
Q: Our14-year-old son is a talented and dedicated musician who mostly plays the Blues – should we be worried about his happiness?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician
Does playing the blues cause the blues?
My whole family enjoys Guitar Hero, but I’m concerned about the lyrics – what should I do?
November 26, 2009
Q: We’re having a lot of fun playing Guitar Hero as a family, but I’m concerned about the lyrics in many of the songs. Do you have any ideas for optimizing the benefits of playing together while minimizing the negatives?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician
My 9 year old is imitating Michael Jackson’s dance moves, how can I talk to him about it?
November 17, 2009
Q: My 9 year old son has recently started imitating Michael Jackson’s dance moves (crotch grabbing and all!). I don’t think he understands what he’s doing; how can I explain to him in a sensitive way what those moves mean?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician
Do violent and sexual media affect suburban kids’ attitudes toward sex?
October 8, 2009
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
Is there anything wrong with cutting out electronic media completely?
September 28, 2009
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
Is it OK to use cartoons to keep my 5-month-old busy while I do things around the house?
September 24, 2009
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
My 4 year old is obsessed with the Disney Channel, what should I do?
August 20, 2009
Q: Recently my 4 year old daughter has found a new, almost obsessive interest in the Disney Channel shows (Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, etc). TV was never a problem before, but now she would rather watch these shows than do anything else. I also think that these shows may be too big-kid for her. What do you think, and how can I get her away from the TV without fuss?
How can I address sexism in the media with my kids?
July 10, 2009
Q: I see a lot of TV shows where women are not treated respectfully. How would you recommend talking to kids about sexism in the media? It’s rather like having a drunken bully over for dinner every night. How do you explain to your kids why you keep letting this kind of person into their home?
How can we set good examples of media use for our kids?
May 28, 2009
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?