May 16, 2017
Es En Espanol Q: You have mentioned research showing that using certain media can make teens sad and/or anxious and that there are also studies linking negative feelings to unhealthy eating habits. Therefore, do you think that negative feelings resulting from teens’ media use, as opposed to real-life events, can lead to unhealthy eating behaviors? ~ Starving for […]
July 24, 2014
Q: While obesity is a critically important issue, I think there are other consequences of excessive screen time that are being overlooked—some parents might even think that there isn’t a problem with their child’s screen time if their child isn’t overweight. As a parent of a slim boy who loves to spend many hours in […]
April 12, 2013
Q: I just saw that you published a study about childhood obesity and watching TV. From the article I read, it sounds like kids who watch TV and commercials for high-calorie foods are more likely to be obese—but that playing video games and using the computer aren’t a problem. Does this mean I should limit […]
February 6, 2013
Q: Hi, I am a parent of a first grader who attends public elementary school. Her school offers the option of having an outdoor recess period after lunch or an indoor free-time in the school’s media center (essentially an extension of the library, featuring several computers, tablets, and eReaders). When I first heard about this […]
November 20, 2012
Thanksgiving is considered a time of reflection, giving thanks, family togetherness, and, of course, delicious food. But when all the toasts have been made, the plates cleared, and the leftovers tucked away, it can be easy to fall into a state of media mindlessness—dozing off in front of the TV, checking cell phones for scores […]
October 1, 2012
Q: At my children’s elementary school, TV is used every day in kindergarten during “rest time.” For the older students, how TV is used varies depending on the teacher or assistant teacher. Some use it during lunch to keep kids quiet or in lieu of recess when it’s raining or cold outside. Do you know […]
September 21, 2012
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, […]
July 20, 2012
Q: My 5-year-old son’s summer camp is studying the Olympics, a topic he is very interested in. We’ve been seeing many billboards and TV commercials with athletes promoting Coca Cola. The first time he saw one, he literally said, “Oh, if I drink Coca Cola, then I can be a great boxer too.” Of course […]
May 14, 2012
Q: My husband and I were having difficulties preparing dinner with our two-year-old daughter in the kitchen, so we began letting her watch Curious George to keep her occupied. Initially this worked well; the show seems to have primarily positive content, and the two 15-minute segments entertained her while we cooked. We’ve been trying not […]
December 30, 2010
Q: What sort of media-related resolutions do you suggest for families?
A: Ones that are free, attainable, and fun to work toward! These 8 simple goals will help you tweak your family’s media use and enjoy the resulting time together.
But while you’re here, subscribe to the Mediatrician’s Media Rx — a weekly prescription for raising and mentoring healthy, smart, kind kids in our screen-saturated world.
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