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TV & Movies

Kids use media for almost 8 hours a day — Now what?
 Kids use media for almost 8 hours a day — Now what? 150 150 Mediatrics

Yesterday the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report detailing just how much media kids are using. Dr. Michael Rich, The MediatricianSM, was interviewed on NBC Nightly News, and the Center on Media and Child Health sent out the following in email to parents today.

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Can toddlers learn sign language by watching DVDs?
 Can toddlers learn sign language by watching DVDs? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: In an NPR interview, you stated that children under the age of 30 months do not learn anything about language from TV programs, but I disagree. My 17-month-old daughter has watched a baby signing language DVD series and now knows about 80 signs. I would love to hear your thoughts on this matter.
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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Q: Do kids experience media differently than adults do?
 Q: Do kids experience media differently than adults do? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Am I correct that we give children a different dose of medicine not just because they weigh less but because they process it differently? Is it the same with media?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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Do negative portrayals of Black women in movies affect how teens view them?
 Do negative portrayals of Black women in movies affect how teens view them? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Do the negative portrayals of Black women in movies affects how teens view Black girls and women?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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Is there anything wrong with letting my 18-month-old watch the episode of Sesame Street that he loves?
 Is there anything wrong with letting my 18-month-old watch the episode of Sesame Street that he loves? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My very active 18-month-old loves one particular episode of Sesame Street. Although I know children under two should be discouraged from watching TV, is it harmful for him to watch Sesame Street?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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My 9 year old is imitating Michael Jackson’s dance moves, how can I talk to him about it?
 My 9 year old is imitating Michael Jackson’s dance moves, how can I talk to him about it? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 9 year old son has recently started imitating Michael Jackson’s dance moves (crotch grabbing and all!). I don’t think he understands what he’s doing; how can I explain to him in a sensitive way what those moves mean?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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My local movie theatre offers “mom & baby” showtimes, should I go?
 My local movie theatre offers “mom & baby” showtimes, should I go? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: There is a movie theatre near my home that has afternoon shows for moms, where they put out a changing table in the theater and don’t lower the lights all the way—but then they show very adult movies. What effect does being exposed to these movies have on infants and toddlers, most of whom are not talking yet?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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Will watching telenovelas harm my 2 year old?
 Will watching telenovelas harm my 2 year old? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My husband and I immigrated to the US in 2003 and often watch telenovelas with our 2 year old son. How will I know if they affect him negatively?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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Aren’t the lessons in violent or sexual media damaging regardless of how graphic they are?
 Aren’t the lessons in violent or sexual media damaging regardless of how graphic they are? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 10 & 12-year-old children want to go to PG-13 and R rated movies with their friends, but I don’t think the sexual innuendo and violence “goes over their heads” – does it?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician

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Can you tell me more about the recommended 1 hour media limit?
 Can you tell me more about the recommended 1 hour media limit? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: When we hear that children should not be exposed to more than 1 hour of screen time per day, does that mean that all media are created equal? For example, are watching a movie, watching an age-appropriate TV show, and playing an interactive children’s website game all the same? What are the concerns about and benefits of each?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, the Mediatrician

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