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School Age Children

small child watering indoor plants
How can my kids experience nature during lockdown?
 How can my kids experience nature during lockdown? 1024 443 Mediatrics

Q: I live in a high-rise apartment and am the father of two girls, ages 4 and 7. Before living in lockdown due to COVID-19, the girls and I would play outside nearly every day at a local park, and often go on nature adventures on weekends. The lockdown was recently extended and I worry that…

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Dad working from home with toddler
I’m parenting 4 kids of different ages during the pandemic. How do I help my family balance media-use healthfully in lockdown?
 I’m parenting 4 kids of different ages during the pandemic. How do I help my family balance media-use healthfully in lockdown? 1024 462 Mediatrics

Q: My partner and I are parenting three children (ages 3.5, 6 and 10) while staying with my sister and her family, which includes a 19-year-old college student. We’re all in lockdown as my sister is high-risk for coronavirus. The adults are working from home, and some of the kids are remote learning. There are…

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Fortnite
What should I know about Fortnite – is it ok for kids to play?
 What should I know about Fortnite – is it ok for kids to play? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: Can you please offer guidance on Fortnite? It seems to be all that kids 11-14 are doing these days. I do not allow my children to play, but saw my godson play and was horrified – the guns all look real, but the deaths show no blood. As a person who grew up in…

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Facebook Messenger Kids
Should I let my children use Facebook’s Messenger Kids app?
 Should I let my children use Facebook’s Messenger Kids app? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: I recently read about Facebook’s new messenger app for kids. My kids, who are 6 and 9, have their own smartphones and currently use them for calling/texting only (I think). We’ve avoided using social media apps, as I worry about the content and protecting their privacy. Is Facebook’s new app a good “gateway” app…

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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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Woman with child at laptop
How can I best use media with children on the autism spectrum?
 How can I best use media with children on the autism spectrum? 750 315 Mediatrics

Es En Espanol Q: I’m a Social Worker who works with children ages 7-18 on the autism spectrum. Many of the kids that I work with interpret what they see in TV and movies as representative of real life situations and how people behave – unfortunately, this kind of rigid, literal thinking often leads to problems…

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Minecraft ADHD
Is it ok for my 8-year-old child, who has ADHD, to play Minecraft?
 Is it ok for my 8-year-old child, who has ADHD, to play Minecraft? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: My 8-year-old son has ADHD and is on medication for it. He wants to play the video game, Minecraft, but I’m not sure if he should. Do you think it is ok for him to play, and if so, for how long? ~ Muddled about Minecraft, The Overworld, Earth A: Dear Muddled, Yes, your son…

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Media Forbidden Fruit
How can I avoid making media into a “forbidden fruit” for my kids?
 How can I avoid making media into a “forbidden fruit” for my kids? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: I was able to attend a community presentation you gave about children and screen time. During your talk, you discouraged parents from setting screen time limits because doing so makes media into “forbidden fruit”, or increasingly tempting for kids. In my house, we often take away TV or iPad time from our kids (ages…

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Classical Music Learning AtM
Does Listening to Classical Music Distract Kids from Learning?
 Does Listening to Classical Music Distract Kids from Learning? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: I love listening to classical music and believe that it helps me quiet my thinking and focus. I often have it on, even while my 8 and 7-year-olds are doing their homework. My question is, does classical music distract from their learning? ~ Baffled about Bach, Fort McMurray, Alberta Canada A: This is a…

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Should I worry that my 6-year-old will be picked on for the kiddie TV shows he watches?
 Should I worry that my 6-year-old will be picked on for the kiddie TV shows he watches? 750 315 Mediatrics

Q: My 6-year-old-son loves to watch shows for younger kids, his favorite show is Paw Patrol which he will watch repeatedly. He has Global Development Delay, and may also have ADHD. I’ve spoken with his pediatrician about the shows he watches and she said that if he likes shows and toys geared towards younger children…

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