Parents sometimes feel overwhelmed and wonder if they are actually able to make a difference in a media-
In collaboration with Iowa State University Extension, Dr. Gentile has an entertaining monthly half-
Audio Interviews with Dr. Gentile on multiple topics are available HERE
How much is too much? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:
| No TV, video games, or computers in children’s bedrooms |
| No screens until children are 3 years old |
| No more than 1 to 2 hours a day of total screen time, which includes all screens (TV, DVDs, TiVo, video games, computer, handheld video games, iPods, texting, IM, etc.), excluding time for school projects. They mean the 1 hour a day for elementary school ages and 2 hours a day for secondary school ages. |
What is age-
What is meant by “talking to children about media?” It is important to discuss the reasons why you set the limits that you do, and even more importantly, to discuss the themes that come up in media. I don’t mean that you as parent simply criticize the media, but instead ask your child questions that helps him/her think through the messages that may not be immediately apparent. This is known as “active mediation” in the scientific literature, and is actually very difficult for most parents to do. For example, after viewing a show, you might note that in this show that two characters slept together without really knowing each other or even discussing protection, and ask them what they think about that. Ask them why they think the show portrayed it that way.
Kaiser Family Foundation Media Research
Center for the Study of Violence at Iowa State
Action Coalition for Media Education
Children Now media research
New Mexico Media Literacy Project
Movie Mom movie reviews for children
Kids in Mind movie reviews
Screen-
Parent Further by the Search Institute
Traditional Parenting by John Rosemond