Ask the Mediatrician

Is there anything wrong with cutting out electronic media completely?

Q: My parents didn't have a TV in the house when I was growing up and I didn't get a stereo until I was a teenager. We read and played outside and I didn't think I was deprived as a kid. I’m ashamed to say that I watched "General Hospital" every day my freshman year of college, even scheduling classes around it, but I don’t watch much TV now. It seems like what is out there now, in terms of violence, sex, and taking risks, is far worse than when I was a kid. Is there anything wrong with just cutting out electronic media completely from my kids' lives?
--Staying Sane in Seattle in Seattle, WA

Dear Staying Sane,

It sounds like your parents were concerned about what you might learn and how you might be changed by the media you used - and responded to their concern by avoiding media altogether. Since they had little information about media effects, they went with their gut feeling. But we know a lot more now than they did then, both about the nature of media effects and the long-term effects of cutting out media completely.

When you were growing up, media were “forbidden fruit,” a sure-fire formula for making media attractive when you got to college. You shouldn’t feel badly about this, it happens quite often. When you think of it, it's not that much different from the college freshmen who get into trouble with binge drinking when they first have access to alcohol. Not only were you attracted to the “forbidden,” but you had no experience using media, so you never got the opportunity to develop skills in critical viewing.

Critical viewing is critical thinking in a media environment – you learn to determine what is good in media, what expands your experience, builds your knowledge, makes you think and feel anew - and what does not. A critical viewer learns to seek out and use positive media in focused, directed ways, and then to turn it off and do other things. Without the childhood experience necessary to develop this skill, in college you got sucked into letting media control you, rather than you controlling media. 

Here’s the other problem with cutting out electronic media completely – today, media are how we communicate who we are and share what we can be. Media are our common, shared experience that connects us as a culture. We compare opinions on American Idol contestants around the water cooler at work and instantly chuckle at the thought of Homer Simpson when others slap their foreheads and say “Doh!” 

Young people are early adopters of media technologies and can unlock their innovative potential for creative expression, participatory democracy, and human understanding. Here's just one example of what can be done with the same devices that both worry and annoy many parents today -- iPods, video cameras, and laptops:

This multimedia project, Playing for Change, is a "movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people."

So I recommend teaching your kids how, how much and when to use electronic media, as well as how to think critically about what they see and hear, and how to embrace the technology that is always so attractive to youth.  Who knows, maybe your kids will grow up to use media in a way that is just as inspiring as this video!
Related question: If my kids grow up without TV, will they feel left out?

Enjoy your media and use them wisely,
The Mediatrician

Is it OK to use cartoons to keep my 5-month-old busy while I do things around the house?

Q: I have a question about my five month old daughter and TV. She likes to watch E/I cartoons. Is it ok for me to let her watch them when I have things I need to do around the house? If allowing her to watch cartoons is not good for her, what are other activities I can do to keep her occupied so I can get things done?
-Curious about Cartoons in Hibbing, MN

A: Dear Curious about Cartoons,

First, know that watching cartoons is not toxic to your child. The issue is that even educational and information (E/I) cartoons don't provide enough stimulation to build healthy, strong, and creative brains. Cartoons are just filler, especially for kids this young, taking up precious awake time that could be used for activities that make her stronger and smarter. In addition, recent research by CMCH scientist Dr. Marie Schmidt also shows that when the TV is on, parents and babies interact less with each other, when interaction with you is most important for her.

Here are the kinds of things we know help to build kids' minds and keep them healthy:

• interacting with other people
• manipulating the physical environment (like stacking blocks or playing with mud)
• taking part in open-ended creative problem-solving play

So where I'm coming from in saying that cartoons are just filler is that they don't get at any of those three kinds of activities.  Depending on what you’re doing, there’s almost always something that your five month old can do alongside you that involves one of those three things.

Having 2 kids myself, here are some things I'm betting you need to get done and some examples of what your daughter could be doing at the same time:

• If you need to make dinner, pull out pots and pans and a wooden spoon and let her go at it. It might be noisy, but she’ll be with you and she’ll be manipulating her environment—and you’ll be getting dinner made.
• If you need to take a shower, put her in a bouncy chair and let her watch the water run down the shower door. Babies are fascinated by things like this, even though we adults have lived in the world long enough to take them for granted.
• If you’re doing taxes or something else boring to an insatiably curious five month old (and likely boring for you too!), you can always put her in an exersaucer or on a blanket with some favorite toys, like blocks or baby gym toys with mobiles. 

You can also play music for her, or give her a stack of toys that she can manipulate to see what happens—rattles and mirrors are great for this age. Pushing her to interact with her world in this way will both give her activities that are useful for her growth and give you the time you need to get things done.
>>Related question: How will TV affect our 3 month old?

Enjoy your media and use them wisely,
The Mediatrician

How can I convince networks not to play violent commercials during family programming?

Q: I have 3 children (15 mos, 6.5 years, and 8.5 years old). My husband and I are greatly concerned by the commercials that are played on television, especially during “family” events like football or NASCAR races. We think the most disturbing commercials are the ones for horror movies and violent movies because of the possibility of anxiety and nightmares for the kids. I have contacted the FCC and NASCAR and they said that these commercials are controlled by the networks; that I basically have to contact each network one by one to voice my concerns. Where can I find information backing up my concerns that these types of visual images are harmful to my young children?
-Anxious Advocate in Elkridge, MD

A: Dear Anxious Advocate,

You are right to be concerned, and I commend you for doing something about it!  In a recent post, we discussed the three major health outcomes associated with exposure to violent media: desensitization, fear, and aggression. If you do decide to contact individual network, there is a good deal of research that you can use to back up these concerns—check out our online resources regarding media violence and, for direct links to studies, the CMCH Database of Research.

As consumers, we can create change by voting with our voices and our wallets.  Write a letter to the executive of the networks and products expressing your feelings both positive and negative. Here are some tips for writing an effective letter.

In the meantime, if you do choose to watch football and NASCAR with your kids, record them using a DVR and skip through the commercials (you could even start watching just 10 or 15 minutes late, so it still has that "live" effect but allows you to skip ahead). Although the programs themselves are also likely to contain a good deal of advertising through product placement, skipping commercials will cut out the obvious violence of movies you’d prefer that your kids not see.

>>Related question: How do I handle inappropriate commercials during sports television?

Enjoy your media and use them wisely,
The Mediatrician

Which computer games are good for my 2 year old?

Q: I’ve introduced my 22-month-old son to a computer program designed for babies that makes shapes and plays a sound every time a button is pushed. Lately, I’ve noticed that he is becoming more thoughtful about it. He used to just bang at the keys, but now he pushes one button at a time and watches what happens on the screen. For his birthday, I’ve been looking for an age-appropriate game that involves more thought. I have found a few games that are marked for 2 years and up, but they seem mostly targeted at kids closer to age 3 than 2. Do you have any suggestions?
-Craving Computers in New York, NY

A: Dear Craving Computers,

I applaud you for how closely you've been watching your son's reaction to the games and how much investigation you've done into software designed for kids.

Your child going from random banging on the keyboard to touching a single key and watching to see what happens shows the important development of both better fine motor skills and the beginning of his understanding of cause and effect. However, there’s nothing unique that the computer contributes to this. This development could be equally well done with, say, an electronic piano keyboard that makes certain sounds by pressing certain keys, or by dropping a ball on the floor and seeing it bounce, or by pouring water into a sand box and seeing it turn to mud. The computer is just one kind of environment where your son can learn these skills.

The reason that the software geared toward two year olds seems better for three year olds is that it is better for three year olds. The most important developmental task of two-year-old children is not to learn fact (which is what computers teach) but to learn how to learn. Computers really only provide tasks with right and wrong answers and thus don't encourage the kind of problem solving and logical thinking necessary to build flexible learners. Instead, they teach kids to memorize and to be afraid of being wrong.  That fear is a problem because you want your son to take risks in learning. You want him to try things out, say new words, and play with toys in new ways. He needs to build that creativity and love of learning far more than he needs to learn his ABCs two months earlier than another child.

For a birthday gift that encourages him to learn how to learn, I recommend open-ended, creative play options. Try modeling clay, markers, paper, books, musical instruments (like maracas or tambourines), a sandbox, or a building set that allows him to build free form things. From what we know about brain development at this age, these toys will help build stronger, more flexible brains than any electronic toy will.  Computers are wonderful teaching tools for kids or 3 and older. You will want to introduce them to your son at the time when they will do the most good and not run the risk of him being bored and uninterested at 3 because he was frustrated at 2.

Enjoy your media and use them wisely,
The Mediatrician

Why do different kids respond differently to media violence?

Q: My boys, now 15 & 17, are so different. I’ve noticed that my two kids can watch the same violent programs and, depending on each child’s nature, they respond differently. Is it true that after viewing violent programs, some children will behave more aggressively while some children become more fearful? If yes, can you explain how that happens? Any chance that some children are not affected at all?
-Variations on Violence in Glencoe, IL

A: Dear Variations on Violence,

Different kids will absolutely respond differently to different material, and there are many reasons for these variations, not all of them easy to identify. Some reasons have to do with age, some with temperament, and some with what else is going on in a child’s life, but on the whole, there are three effects to watch for:

• Desensitization (or coming to accept violence as a normal part of life) - Almost everyone experiences this effect.  When people see a lot of violence, whether it's in the media or in real life, their understanding of the world shifts.  The more violence they see, the less "out of place" it seems.  
• Fear and anxiety - This may happen more often in younger children.  Seeing violence all over the news, in movies, and in video games can lead kids to believe that the world is a very dangerous place and they are potential victims every time they leave their houses.
• Increased aggression -This is the least common, but most talked about, effect.  In the media world, violence is often used as a way to solve problems.  Furthermore, the negative consequences of this violence are not often shown.  When kids see this over and over again, they may learn to solve problems using physical violence.  

You also asked if there are kids who aren't affected at all.  I would say that they are few and far between.  Since most kids are able to socially connect with others, they also have the capacity to know how others are hurt and feel sympathy for them. 

Unfortunately, there is no good way of predicting which kids will react in which ways, and that makes prevention tricky.  But given that most people will experience at least one of these three effects, reducing exposure to media violence can only help. When your kids do use violent media, teach them how to think critically about what they see and hear.

>>See also What can I do about media violence?

Enjoy your media and use them wisely,
The Mediatrician

Is there software I can buy to limit my kids' computer time?

Q: I have three sons, ages 8, 5, and 5 (twins) who love to play computer games (Club Penguin, Webkinz, PBS kids.com, and others). I try to limit their screen time to one hour per day, but I know they have been using it for longer than that when they can get away with it. Is there a parent-controlled program I can buy that allows each child to login and have only a limited amount of access per day?
-Computer Curious in West Roxbury, MA

A: Dear Computer Curious,

First of all, I applaud you for limiting your kids' screen time and for being aware of what they’re doing even outside what you have allowed. That kind of awareness is an example of great parenting in today's media-filled world.

One thing I want to mention is limiting time is only one thing to be concerned about; content is also important.  Some online games are deeply involved with hooking kids into a product or product line. And there’s evidence that kids under age 7 or 8 can’t tell when someone is selling them something. That’s all the more reason to limit their exposure to these kinds of games.

If you Google "limit computer time", you will find links to a variety of programs (some are free like Norton's Online Family, some you must pay for) that will allow you to do just what you described -- set up a system to allow family members a certain amount of computer time.  But one of the problems with relying on technological solutions is that there are always ways to get around such limits (and let's face it, kids seem to always find those ways!).

For that reason, I recommend taking advantage of this situation to teach your kids about limits.  Maybe the limits continue to be a set amount of time, like you have already set up.  Or instead you could think in terms of guidelines -- Is all of the important work of the day—family meals, outdoor time, homework—finished before the screen goes on? Is the screen shut off in time for a full night’s sleep?  Educating your children to take care of themselves in a web environment will be more reliable than a computer program, and your kids will also be able to use those lessons in other areas of their lives.

Enjoy your media and use them wisely,
The Mediatrician

How will TV affect our 3-month-old?

Q: Our 3-month-old son stares at the TV intensely, like he knows what he’s watching. Are there any effects because he’s so young?
Media Mom in Philadelphia, PA

A: Dear Media Mom,

The intensity with which infants look at screens can certainly make it seem like they understand what’s going on, but unlike adults, they only see TV as a pattern of color, light, and dark. They can’t decode those images into representations of real life. So why does your son watch the screen so carefully? Because it keeps changing. You’re seeing evidence of what’s called the orienting reflex, which causes people to turn toward any change in their environments—whether it’s an ever-changing TV screen, a loud noise, or someone running by.

There are two effects of concern: First, this is an exceedingly important time in your son’s brain development. His brain will triple in volume in his first two years of life, creating billions of connections and getting rid of unnecessary ones. In order for his brain to develop in the best possible way, he needs to interact with other people, manipulate objects in his environment, and play in a way that lets him fully explore and solve problems in a creative. way. Electronic screens provide none of these experiences. Therefore, any time that he spends in front of a screen is valuable time that could be used for much richer brain-building activities—and in a 3 month old, who is likely sleeping for nearly 12 hours each day, any awake time is precious.

The second effect of concern is that what babies learn from screens is, mostly, how to watch TV. Early TV watching is linked to watching more TV later in life, and kids who watch more TV are more prone to all of the problems (like obesity, anxiety, depression, and sleep problems) research has shown are connected to TV exposure.

So I recommend replacing most, if not all, of your son's TV time with activities that involve one of the three experiences that are best for your baby’s brain that I mentioned before.  (As the father of two young kids, I know this can be difficult to do -- here are a few ideas).  Then his learning will focus on relationships, creativity, and the world around him--and that's what babies need.

• Socializing with people - playing peek-a-boo or this little piggy
• Manipulating objects - throwing balls, exploring the textures of mud and water
• Problem solving - stacking blocks, using shape sorting toys

Enjoy your media and use them wisely,
The Mediatrician