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Tweens

Am I limiting my child’s chances of success in today’s economy by trying to limit his screen time?
 Am I limiting my child’s chances of success in today’s economy by trying to limit his screen time? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 11-year-old son spends every free minute in front of his computer—doing homework (he really does, thank goodness), social networking, playing games, and now creating his own games. Concerned that, one by one, he has dropped sports, playing with friends, getting outdoors, and, frankly, spending time with the family, I have struggled (and been…

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How can I monitor my 12-year-old daughter’s use of Instagram?
 How can I monitor my 12-year-old daughter’s use of Instagram? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I am trying to monitor my 12-year-old daughter’s use of Instagram and am wondering if there is a way to find any ‘secret storage’ spaces on her smartphone. I am not too concerned right now, but in the future I would like to know how to access it. Instagram is the only social media platform…

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Will playing hunting video games cause my son to be more aggressive and desensitize him to violence?
 Will playing hunting video games cause my son to be more aggressive and desensitize him to violence? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: Hello, I am the mother of a 10-year-old boy. We don’t allow violent video games in the house, but we do allow him to play first-person shooter hunting games (Duck Hunter, Cabela’s, Big Buck Hunter, etc.), which he loves, especially as he takes a hunting trip with his father every year. My fear is…

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It feels like 9/11 all over again. Our world has changed—forever. Now what do I do?
 It feels like 9/11 all over again. Our world has changed—forever. Now what do I do? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I am the mother of a 5 year old, an 8 year old and a 12 year old. I am numb with grief, fear, and rage… yes, rage. Rage at myself and at my society, more than anything else. I am numb, but not immobile. Last night I went through all of our DVDs…

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Should I let my 14-year-old use the ‘Snapchat’ application?
 Should I let my 14-year-old use the ‘Snapchat’ application? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My 14-year-old daughter has been begging to get ‘Snapchat’ on her iPod Touch. I searched for information and I wasn’t initially impressed.  I am tech savvy and know screen shots can easily be saved, but also, if she loses her device and someone else sends something, she could be held responsible. I don’t like…

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We gather together.
 We gather together. 150 150 Mediatrics

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 away, it can be easy to fall into a state of media mindlessness—dozing off in front of the TV, checking cell phones for scores…

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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…

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My 15-year-old daughter is having pornographic conversations online–what do I do?
 My 15-year-old daughter is having pornographic conversations online–what do I do? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I found out that my 15-year-old daughter has a profile on a social network site where she has pornographic conversations with boys. Is this normal teenage behavior? How can I get through to her without driving her further into secrecy?

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How do I limit my child’s media time if he’s physically fit and gets good grades?
 How do I limit my child’s media time if he’s physically fit and gets good grades? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: My child is in third grade, and he’s already diagnosed with ADHD. He has a high IQ, is in honors classes, and is physically active—he’s a Gold-medal wrestler. He still uses media for too many hours each day, though. Given that he’s in good shape and gets good grades, how can I tell him…

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With all the gadgets we have at home, how can I monitor my kids’ internet use?
 With all the gadgets we have at home, how can I monitor my kids’ internet use? 150 150 Mediatrics

Q: I have a 5 and 10 year old and am wondering how I can monitor their internet use. We have a wireless Lynksys system, a Macbook, Wii, Xbox, and a Windows computer. Any thoughts?–Surfing, in South Jersey A: Dear Surfing, There are a number of software and firmware products that claim to monitor and/or…

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