parenting the “plugged in” child what’s new (and not so new) in the age of digital media
TRANSCRIPT
Is Media Harmful?
May be associated with obesity, sleep disturbance (See AAP Council on Communications and Media, 2011 report)
May be linked to depression/emotional problems (e.g., Page, Cooper, Griew & Jago, 2010)
May interfere with developmentally critical activities
May interfere with family life
Benefits of Youth Media Use
Connect with friends
Broaden community
Enhance creative thinking
Foster sense of identity
Supplement learning
Increase access to information
O’Keefe & Clarke-Pearson (2011)
Common Challenges
Lack of comfort with new media
Knowing what limits to set
Challenges to setting limits
Lack of Comfort with New Media
Learn as much as possible “Terms of Use”, “Safety” features www.netlingo.com, www.noslang.com www.netsmartz.org, www.parentfurther.com
Ask your child to teach you!
Setting Limits
Promote Health Positive behavior Emotional wellbeing
Protect against: Cyber-bullying Access to inappropriate content
Recommendations from the AAP
Infants < 2 years: 0 hours of screen time/day
Children > 2 years: <2 hours of screen time/day
Avoid TV sets and internet connections in bedrooms
Co-view with children
Limit nighttime screen media use
AAP Council on Communications and Media (2011)
Setting Limits
Modeling Healthy media use (and balance) Good citizenship (e.g., abiding by the rules)
Direct Conversation
Provide Alternatives Including activities for the whole family to enjoy
Monitoring
When to Seek Outside Help
Concerns for cyber-bullying
Change in your child’s: Mood Enjoyment of non-media activities Sleep Grades/school performance Behavior Ability to participate in family life
References
American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communications and Media (2011). Policy statement: children, adolescents, obesity and the media. Pediatrics, 128(1), 201-208. www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2011-10660
O’Keefe, G.W. & Clarke-Pearson, K. (2011). Clinical Report: The impact of social media on children, adolescents and families. Pediatrics, 127 (4), 800-804.http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/03/28/peds.2011-0054
Page, A.S., Cooper, A.R., Griew, P. & Jago, R. (2010). Children’s screen viewing is related to psychological difficulties irrespective of physical activity. Pediatrics, 126(5), 1011 -1017).
Rideout V. (2010). Generation M2: Media in theLives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. Kaiser Family Foundation: Menlo Park, CA.