Q: I have been reading the Harry Potter series to my children ages 10 and 7. We’ve read the first and second book and watched the corresponding movies. Both my kids love the series and want to continue reading and watching. I’ve read a lot of varying opinions about the age-appropriateness of both the books… Read more »
Posts Tagged: School Age Children
Does Listening to Classical Music Distract Kids from Learning?
Q: I love listening to classical music and believe that it helps me quiet my thinking and focus. I often have it on, even while my 8 and 7-year-olds are doing their homework. My question is, does classical music distract from their learning? ~ Baffled about Bach, Fort McMurray, Alberta Canada A: This is a… Read more »
I’m worried that my 6-year-old will be picked on for the kiddie TV shows he watches. What should I do?
Q: My 6-year-old-son loves to watch shows for younger kids, his favorite show is Paw Patrol which he will watch repeatedly. He has Global Development Delay, and may also have ADHD. I’ve spoken with his pediatrician about the shows he watches and she said that if he likes shows and toys geared towards younger children… Read more »
Is technology decreasing kids’ ability to communicate face-to-face?
Q: As a mother and a student examining media as a social issue, I’m concerned that technology is decreasing youth’s ability to communicate face-to-face, largely because most of their communication and activities are done through a screen. Is there evidence for this concern? ~ Face Facts, Bridgeport, CT A: Dear Face, Young people walk hand… Read more »
September is Pain Management Awareness Month
September is Pain Management Awareness Month. The American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) established this annual campaign in 2001 to raise awareness through mass media and public forums, and by forming a coalition to increase understanding within the health care community and among families struggling with pain management. Virtual reality headsets are often used to distract… Read more »
What Can I do to Protect My Kids from Seeing Inappropriate Fashion Catalogues?
Q: I recently received the Spring 2015 Catalog from the department store Barneys New York. The catalog was sent to my house without any envelope or sleeve to protect it from being opened by kids, even though it contains pictures that I believe are inappropriate for young children. What can be done to prevent such… Read more »
Media Interventions: New Studies in the Database of Research
In addition to studying the effects of media, researchers also explore how new media interventions can be used to prevent, diagnose, or rehabilitate certain medical conditions. The studies below examine how music, video games, and text messaging can be used as health care interventions. The effects of music therapy on vital signs, feeding, and sleep… Read more »
Recently Published Studies on Children, Media, and Health
Check out these recently published studies available in the CMCH database. Backett-Milburn, K., & Jackson, S. Children's concerns about their parents' health and wellbeing: Researching with ChildLine Scotland. Children & Society, 26(5): 381-393. Children use media for a variety of reasons, including, as this study shows, to learn or talk about their parents' own health…. Read more »
Research Toolbox: Recently Published Books
Here is a list of recently published titles of interest on the topics of children, media, and health: Examining Identity in Sports Media by Heather L. Hundley and Andrew C. Billings (2009) This book investigates how various identity groups are framed, treated, affected, and shaped by a ubiquitous sports media, including television, magazines, film,… Read more »
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? Dr. Michael Rich answers this question and others on Ask the Mediatrician.