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Time Management

How can my kids experience nature when we live in a media-saturated city?
 How can my kids experience nature when we live in a media-saturated city? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I live in a big city with my 3 year old son and 1 year old daughter, and I’ve noticed that children who live in such cities spend a lot of time playing on cement playgrounds and on the Web. I know that spending time in nature is good for children’s development, but how…

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How can I cut out TV time from my two-year-old’s dinnertime routine?
 How can I cut out TV time from my two-year-old’s dinnertime routine? 150 150 Mediatrics

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…

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When is it time for my daughter to get an email account?
 When is it time for my daughter to get an email account? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: At what age do you think it is appropriate for a child to have a personal e-mail address? I have a 10 year old who wants one, but I don’t feel she is old enough. I think she can be trusted and has proved to be responsible, but it’s the world out there I…

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Are static images on TV harmful to toddlers?
 Are static images on TV harmful to toddlers? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: When our 14-month-old son was born, his pediatrician told us to avoid screen time, so we do not allow him to watch TV and we rarely have it on while he is awake. But, we subscribe to a music service that streams through the TV. When the songs play, the album covers are shown…

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My teen daughter’s addiction to technology is ruining our family life–what should I do?
 My teen daughter’s addiction to technology is ruining our family life–what should I do? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I am the mother of three daughters (15, 13, and 11). Although I try to set limits, technology is ruining my family life. My oldest daughter in particular is addicted to Facebook, Skype, texting, etc.—whenever I try to reduce or eliminate her access, she finds a way to be in touch with her friends.…

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How can I limit my teen’s Internet time without distracting him from homework or invading his privacy?
 How can I limit my teen’s Internet time without distracting him from homework or invading his privacy? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 16-year-old son uses the computer constantly at home in his room and almost always claims he is doing homework. He doesn’t want me to look over his shoulder and see what he is doing when I come into his room, and frankly, I want to allow him his privacy when he is on the…

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How do I ensure that my wired kids are being responsible citizens offline?
 How do I ensure that my wired kids are being responsible citizens offline? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My kids are attached to their cell phones and laptops, and it worries me that they’re not paying as much attention to the world happening around them. How can I prevent this?
A: Talk regularly about–and set a good example of–being a responsible citizen on- and offline. We’ve got tips to get you started.

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Do kids in daycare watch more TV than kids who stay home?
 Do kids in daycare watch more TV than kids who stay home? 150 150 Mediatrics

What you heard about kids in daycare watching more TV than others is true when it’s a home-based childcare situation, but not when the children are at a childcare center. It’s not surprising that of these three groups, it’s the one supervised by people with the most training in child development that sets the strictest limits on screen exposure.

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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®

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Why should my family participate in Turnoff Week?
 Why should my family participate in Turnoff Week? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Why should my family participate in Turnoff Week?
A: TV, video games, and computers have become so common that, for many families, they are a default activity, rather than a choice they make about how they want to spend their time. It is not just cramming facts into children’s brains, but giving them the unstructured “down time” to process those facts and come to their own conclusions, that will give them the richest environment in which to develop.
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®

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