Tweens
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Family Guide to Going Back to School with Technology
Sharpened pencils and cool first-day outfits have always been part of the back-to-school fun, but for today’s kids, things aren’t as analog as they used to be. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically affected how students attend school, and those effects linger even as most students return to school full-time and in-person.
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Family Guide to Teaching Kids and Teens Essential Digital Skills
In a world where toddlers are swiping through screens and tweens are building their online personas, young people need to be equipped…
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Family Guide: 5 Strategies for Setting Digital Media Boundaries and Guidelines for Kids
Digital media have become deeply embedded in our kids’ lives, with screen time often beginning during toddlerhood. These technologies can provide cognitive, social, and emotional benefits, such as expanded learning opportunities, global connections, and outlets for self-expression.
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Benefits of Video Game Play: Content and Context Matter
Sam Schwamm’s academic and professional interests center on the relationship between interactive media (especially video games) and positive youth development.
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Family Guide to Disinformation and Misinformation Online
Is that really true?! We’ve all seen the screaming headlines and tempting clickbait. Unfortunately, not all of the information on the internet tells the whole truth, and some of it is just plain false. Disinformation and misinformation can potentially to be extremely dangerous—especially for children and teens, who are still building the critical thinking skills…
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Family Guide to a Child’s First Cell Phone
If your child is begging for a phone because all their friends have one (or if you want to give your child a phone so you can keep in contact with them) but you’re not sure if it’s a good idea, you are not alone. In our December 2021 Pulse Survey on Childrens’ First Cell…
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Ask the Experts: How do I model good digital media and tech habits for my kids?
How do I model good digital media and tech habits for my kids? As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words. Drawing from what we know from research, this concept also applies to digital media use — what children observe their parents and siblings doing has a more substantial influence on them than being…
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Get the Family Outdoors with Digital Tech to Celebrate National Health and Fitness Day
Every day is a good day to get your family outside and moving but today is National Family Health and Fitness Day, which is a fantastic excuse to put a little extra elbow grease into planning some family outdoor activities. If the thought of peeling your kids away from their screens makes you want to…
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Family Guide to Video Gaming
A quarter of teens believe they spend too much time playing video games, while a similar share feels they spend too little time doing so. Learn about the effects, both good and bad, of video games on children and how you can help your child have a healthy relationship with gaming.
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What To Do When… Your teen seems to prefer spending time online than with their family or “real world” friends
If it seems like your teen would rather spend time on their phone than with their family or even their IRL friends, you’re not alone. It’s normal for adolescents to prefer time with their social group over time with family, but there are some conversations you can have to help your teen create more balance…
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Family Guide to Creating Shared Media Use Agreements
This guide offers strategies and resources for creating effective shared media use agreements with children of all ages.
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Ask the Experts: Teens, Photos, and Online Privacy
The Mediatrician offers a parent of a teenager strategies to support her daughter’s healthy and safe use of photo sharing on social media.
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Ask the Experts: Gradeschoolers and Video Games
In this installment of Ask the Mediatrician, we talk about strategies for supporting a school age child’s healthy use of video games.
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What To Do When… You’re concerned your child is being cyberbullied
Studies indicate that 20-40% of children experience cyberbullying, with the prevalence higher for girls and LGBTQIA children. In this post, we provide suggestions for conversation starters to address your concerns with your child in a way that helps them to speak openly and without feeling shame.
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Ask the Experts: Middle Schoolers and R-Rated Movies
In this installment of Ask the Mediatrician, we offer a parent guidance for what to do when her middle-schooler is begging to see an R-rated movie all his friends have already seen.