Kathleen Dunn of Wisconcsin Public Radio spoke with Dr. Michael Rich , Director of CMCH, about children’s internet access and internet safety. Kathleen Dunn: “Tell me more about this MySpace.com?” Dr. Rich: “The vast majority of teens use it like a yearbook page, from posting poetry they’ve written to posting pictures […]

“They’re bombarded with electronics starting in infancy, from the new Sesame Street for six-month-olds to game-playing laptops for toddlers. But when does being a multimedia youngster help — and when does it hurt — children’s malleable brains?” This week, the National Institutes of Health gathered experts together to discuss what research is most […]

“A rainbow-hued pony gallops onto the television screen, turning black-and-white images into colorful ducks and donkeys. Two cute squirrels play ‘Hot and Cold’ as they search for acorns. A sculptor’s hand turns sand into shapes as soothing classical music plays in the background. Are these images designed to help babies and […]

“The first TV channel designed for babies debuted in the United States on Thursday, immediately drawing criticism from pediatricians who say young children shouldn’t be watching TV at all. Director of CMCH, Dr. Michael Rich , who studies the impact of the media on children’s health, says it ‘defies reason’ to suggest that […]

“Escalating an already heated national debate, a first-of-its-kind TV channel premieres Thursday designed specifically for babies — an age group that the American Academy of Pediatrics says should be kept away from television altogether.” Pediatrician and Director of CMCH, Dr. Michael Rich , believes that parents will use the TV as a […]

“Two new scientific reports…show that when it comes to children’s healthy development, the nature of entertainment media is just as important as the amount of it children consume. [One] study, conducted by the Center on Media and Child Health…found that children’s viewing of violent television programming is associated with peer isolation. Researchers […]

“A Boston-based child advocacy group filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission yesterday charging the makers of the popular Baby Einstein and Brainy Baby videos with false and deceptive advertising. The complaint says there is no evidence the programs are educational, despite the claims on their packaging and websites.” ‘It’s unlikely […]