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Preschoolers

Is it okay for my toddler to watch the same Sesame Street movie over and over?
 Is it okay for my toddler to watch the same Sesame Street movie over and over? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: What is the consequence of watching the same Sesame Street movie over and over? It's Sesame Street and it's a movie, and it's only about 1 hour long. So it's not TV, it's not computer, it's not passive. We watch it together and we interact throughout it, with singing and dancing along. My daughter…

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Should we keep kids away from media after the Boston Marathon bombings?
 Should we keep kids away from media after the Boston Marathon bombings? 150 150 Mediatrics

Dear Readers, Our hearts hurt after Monday's explosions at the Boston Marathon. The pain and shock in our community is palpable, and it’s hard to know where to go from here. But there is also a remarkable upsurge of help and love that sprang out of the shadow of this event. The Center on Media…

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If TV contributes to obesity, should I limit my kids’ screen time to video games and computers?
 If TV contributes to obesity, should I limit my kids’ screen time to video games and computers? 150 150 Mediatrics

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…

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Do pop-up ads affect young children?
 Do pop-up ads affect young children? 150 150 Mediatrics

My almost 3-year-old son loves to watch Caillou on Sprout, a TV channel that carries programming for infants and young children. Throughout Caillou, there are many pop-ups that soundlessly advertise Sprout or the next show that will air. These pop-ups distract me as an adult. Have there have been any studies on how they affect young…

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Is having music on in the background harmful to toddlers?
 Is having music on in the background harmful to toddlers? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I recently read that exposure to background media (TVs, computers, etc.) can affect a child’s development. Is this true for music as well? I play classical music, light rock, and NPR in the background throughout the day with our toddler. I thought it would be good for her. Is it potentially not so good?  -Background…

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Will my young kids be ‘missing out’ without a smartphone?
 Will my young kids be ‘missing out’ without a smartphone? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I am mom to a 3-year-old and a newborn. I’m careful about the amount and content of my kids’ screen time. I occasionally try to find simple computer games for my toddler to develop keyboard and mouse skills, but I wonder if these skills will be relevant for her in the future. I’m starting…

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My children’s school uses TV during rest time, lunch time, and recess–what should I do?
 My children’s school uses TV during rest time, lunch time, and recess–what should I do? 150 150 Mediatrics

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…

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Making ‘friends’ with your children’s media—and how it can help you parent
 Making ‘friends’ with your children’s media—and how it can help you parent 150 150 Mediatrics

The Mediatrician® contributed to the following post on A Platform for Good, the Family Online Safety Institute's resource page and blog. Last winter, a father read an angry letter his 15-year-old daughter had posted on Facebook. In response, he put nine bullets into her laptop and posted the video online. Within weeks, it had garnered millions…

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How do you explain advertising to a 5-year-old?
 How do you explain advertising to a 5-year-old? 150 150 Mediatrics

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…

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What should I do if my six-year-old is afraid of children’s TV–but his younger sisters aren’t?
 What should I do if my six-year-old is afraid of children’s TV–but his younger sisters aren’t? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I have a 6-year-old son, and he is very fearful of children’s television. For instance, when his younger sisters watch Winnie The Pooh and the bees start chasing Pooh Bear, my son screams in terror and runs out of the room. This does not scare his two younger sisters at all. Do you have…

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