Screen Smart Parenting

TOP TEN TIPS FOR SMART SCREEN TIME:

SCREENS* ARE PART OF KIDS LIVES --
TO KEEP KIDS SAFE AND HEALTHY, HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO…

baby1. Know when it’s too early: Under 2 years; screen time is not recommended before 2 years of age. More...

2. Know when it’s too much: Less than 2 hours; understand the full range of media in your child’s life and limit non-school related screen time to under 2 hours per day. More...

3. Separate viewing from chewing: Avoid eating in front of the TV or other screen media; make meal time…family time. More...dinner

4. Monitor content: Content matters—know what your child is watching; look for quality educational programs. More...

5. Keep screens out of the bedroom: Keep them in a placewhere you can monitor timeand content. More...

6. Promote mindful viewing: Eliminate background TV; be selective about viewing; avoidchannel surfing; reduce exposure to advertisementsvideo. More...

7. Watch with your child: monitor your child’s reactions and be prepared to answer your child’s questions about programming; avoid using TV as a babysitter. More...

8. Agree as a family about screen time: discuss and agree on limits: “this is what we do in our house”. More...

9. Promote less screen time…more green time: get outside and play!worms More...

10. Be a role model: limit your own screen time viewing; watch less than 2 hours per day; be mindful when you watch…and turn it off when no one is actually watching!
More...

*Screen Time includes TV, computer, DVDs, Videos and Video Games, hand-held devices, etc.

To download these tips in
poster format, click here or as a flyer, click here.

Research - The Facts Behind the Tips:

To prevent childhood obesity and keep kids healthy, what’s a family to do? Actually, there is a lot you can do. This document is a series of articles that will link TV and other screen time management to childhood obesity prevention. To view/download document click here.

Media's Effects on Children with Dr. Dimitri Christakis

February 17th, 2011 Dr. Dimitri Christakis provided a telemedicine presentation for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit to all physicians in the state. Click below to view the recorded video presentation and his PowerPoint presentation.


Screen Media and Its Effects on Weight, Aggression and Behavior from Hannah Cowgill on Vimeo.


LINKS for more information:

http://cmch.typepad.com/mediatrician/

http://www.pbs.org/parents/

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents