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Reading & Print Media

Harry Potter Books Movies
Is it ok to read the Harry Potter books to my 10 and 7-year-old and watch the movies?
 Is it ok to read the Harry Potter books to my 10 and 7-year-old and watch the movies? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: I have been reading the Harry Potter series to my children ages 10 and 7. We’ve read the first and second book and watched the corresponding movies. Both my kids love the series and want to continue reading and watching. I’ve read a lot of varying opinions about the age-appropriateness of both the books…

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Two women on phones over breakfast
Can media use cause teens to be unhappy with their bodies and contribute to eating disorders?
 Can media use cause teens to be unhappy with their bodies and contribute to eating disorders? 750 315 Mediatrics

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…

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Infant Reading Tablet
Is it ok for me to read books to my baby on a tablet?
 Is it ok for me to read books to my baby on a tablet? 1 1 Mediatrics

Es En Espanol Q: My child is 13 months old and loves reading books. She is below the 24 month suggested age for screen time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Is it ok to read books with her on the iPad? ~ iPerplexed, USA A: Dear iPerplexed, This is a wonderful question and one that…

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Media Teens Anxiety Depression
Do today’s media play a role in teen anxiety and depression?
 Do today’s media play a role in teen anxiety and depression? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: I am working on a project about adolescents in this century. I am curious why there are so many more cases of anxiety and depression within teenage groups these days. Do media play a role in this? Have antidepressants and anxiety medications helped or hurt youth? ~ Stressed Or Saddened, USA A: Dear SOS, Depression…

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Three teen girls looking at a fashion magazine
What Can I do to Protect My Kids from Seeing Inappropriate Fashion Catalogues?
 What Can I do to Protect My Kids from Seeing Inappropriate Fashion Catalogues? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: I recently received the Spring 2015 Catalog from the department store Barneys New York. The catalog was sent to my house without any envelope or sleeve to protect it from being opened by kids, even though it contains pictures that I believe are inappropriate for young children. What can be done to prevent such…

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Is it okay for a 10th grade English class to read a book that portrays sexual violence?
 Is it okay for a 10th grade English class to read a book that portrays sexual violence? 150 150 Mediatrics

  Q: A very good English teacher at my children’s high school is having her 10th grade students read a book that’s causing quite a stir: “The House of the Spirits,” by Isabel Allende. The book contains some very graphic descriptions of violence, sex, and sexual abuse. The teacher is using the book as a way…

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Should apps be part of a library’s story time?
 Should apps be part of a library’s story time? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: There is a discussion among children’s librarians about including tablets and apps in story times at the library for children ages 2-5 or even younger. The assumption is that apps can and should be one more type of material that supports early literacy development (vocabulary, narrative skills, letter knowledge, phonological awareness, etc.). Some think…

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Are reading systems like Tag Junior helpful for toddlers?
 Are reading systems like Tag Junior helpful for toddlers? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My mother-in-law just bought a Tag Junior for my two and a half year old. It feels unnecessary for my son, who already loves books and is learning the alphabet at his own pace through puzzles and songs, etc. Is there any support (beyond that promoted by Leap Frog) for this as a useful…

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Are there home school media literacy programs for seven-year-olds?
 Are there home school media literacy programs for seven-year-olds? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: We are a homeschooling family who has decided to exclude media from our daughters’ lives until they turn 7. Our daughters have never watched TV and have never seen an advertisement, movie, YouTube clip, etc. Our eldest is turning seven in June, and we want to introduce her to media though a media literacy…

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How important is outdoor recess for children in elementary school?
 How important is outdoor recess for children in elementary school? 150 150 Mediatrics

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…

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