Close
Enter your
text here

Research

Are there physical effects of excessive screen time that are not related to weight?
 Are there physical effects of excessive screen time that are not related to weight? 750 250 Mediatrics

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…

read more
How can research help you make everyday decisions?
 How can research help you make everyday decisions? 150 150 Mediatrics

Dear Readers, I would like to share with you an editorial that I had the opportunity to author for JAMA-Pediatrics this week. I focus on the questions we face about our children’s use of media, which continue to be confusing, sometimes overwhelming, and often leave parents feeling guilty about their choices rather than with the…

read more
We gather together.
 We gather together. 150 150 Mediatrics

Last Thanksgiving, we posted this piece about relfection and taking time to be together. We are reposting it in honor of this Thanksgiving. Enjoy! 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…

read more
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…

read more
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…

read more
The Good News about Children and Media in 2010
 The Good News about Children and Media in 2010 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: It seems like all we ever hear about are the negative effects of media. What research has been done on using media in positive ways?
A: Indeed, studies in the past year indicate just how positive media can be for children and families when it is used in a controlled way, paying particular attention to its content and the context in which it is used.

read more
Is my son addicted to Wikipedia?
 Is my son addicted to Wikipedia? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 16 year-old spends several hours a day on Wikipedia, reading and editing entries. I’ve searched for scientific papers specifically on Wikipedia habits, but all I find are articles on internet addiction. Should I be concerned? What can I do?
A: A: First of all, your web searches may have been pointing you to the right articles: Even if it seems like an inappropriate term to categorize your son’s behavior, internet addiction refers to unhealthy patterns of internet use…
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®

read more
How does pornography impact boys’ ideas about women and relationships?
 How does pornography impact boys’ ideas about women and relationships? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Boys in my daughter’s 8th grade class were looking at pornographic images on one of their phones during lunch. How do these images affect boys’ ideas about sex?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®

read more
Will baby videos help an infant learn?
 Will baby videos help an infant learn? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I just became an aunt for the first time and while looking for baby gifts, I keep coming across educational DVDs for infants. Will these help my nephew get a head start on learning?

read more