Q: My 12-year-old daughter is devastated by what has been happening with Justin Bieber. She has been a fan of the pop star “forever” and she and her friends fervently follow his career and personal life. I originally supported my daughter’s obsession (allowing her to buy his music, hang posters in her bedroom, attend a… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Ask the Mediatrician
Tagged: Worldview
How do I help my 14-year-old cope with the Aurora movie theater shooting?
Q: My 14 year old son has been anticipating the release of the new Batman movie ever since he saw the trailer last year. He pre-ordered his tickets for opening weekend and was all set to go with friends when he heard about the theater shooting at the midnight showing in Aurora Colorado. The news… Read more »
Should I correct Thanksgiving stereotypes my kids see on TV?
Readers loved this post last Thanksgiving (thanks for your great feedback, Shaping Youth!), so we are reposting it in honor of this one. Enjoy! Q: I know I’m probably making a big deal out of this, but it really bugs me when my school-age kids watch shows and movies in class or on TV that… Read more »
The Good News about Children and Media in 2010
Q: It seems like all we ever hear about are the negative effects of media. What research has been done on using media in positive ways?
A: Indeed, studies in the past year indicate just how positive media can be for children and families when it is used in a controlled way, paying particular attention to its content and the context in which it is used.
Should I correct Thanksgiving stereotypes my kids see on TV?
Q: My school-age kids have seen TV shows and movies that show inaccurate stereotypes of the first Thanksgiving—grateful Pilgrims and wild “Indians” and lots of peace and harmony. Is it my place to correct them?
A: If what your kids are learning isn’t in line with your understanding of the actual story of Thanksgiving, start a discussion about what they’ve heard, and consider guiding them through these concepts that add nuance and accuracy to their understanding.
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®
How can I address racial jokes on TV?
A: As you demonstrate you already know, humor around racism, sexism, discrimination or hate in any form tends to be very mature, and usually dark and painful…
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®
How does pornography impact boys’ ideas about women and relationships?
Q: Boys in my daughter’s 8th grade class were looking at pornographic images on one of their phones during lunch. How do these images affect boys’ ideas about sex?
Answered by Dr. Michael Rich, The Mediatrician®
Do negative portrayals of Black women in movies affect how teens view them?
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
