What Should Your Kids Be Watching?
A guide to the complicated world of childrens movies and television.
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Saturday mornings and weekday afternoons melted by, windows shut against the Louisiana humidity and the buzz of cicadas.
I dont play piano or speak French; on the other hand, Im relatively hale and employed.
Your familys rules are most likely going to need to change.
How Much Are Kids Watching?
Almost certainly more than they used to be.
For those ages 8 to 12, its two and a half hours.
But parents might be fudging.
Thats 3.9 hours per day.
Should I Make Rules?
Yes, you should.
What Should the Rules Be?
Time limits are both more appropriate and easier to enforce at younger ages.
Is There Any Hope of Walking the Rules Back When All This Is Over?
Are Some Kinds of Screen Time Better Than Others?
Close second is interactive stuff likeMo Willemss Lunch Doodles seriesorGoNoodles dance videos.
If Im Too Restrictive, Will It Backfire?
I advise against doing anything very drastic with screen time, says Domoff.
Is It Bad to Use Media Time As a Reward or Punishment?
Its probably not ideal.
What If They Have a Tantrum When I Turn It Off?
Often the reaction is explosive.
Domoff coaches parents this way:
1.
Give a clear limit beforehand.
Give them a five-minute warning.
Okay, time to move on, hey shut off the tablet.
Praise compliance: Thank you for listening so well and shutting down the tablet!
Have a different activity lined up.
Preferably its one that includes positive attention and focus from you.
This could be a snack, a trip to the park, or a non-screen playtime activity.
What If Your Kids See Something They Shouldnt?
Maybe its scary, maybe its sexual, maybe its violent or offensive.
And listen to them even more than you talk.
In fact, we should be having an ongoing regular conversation with our kids about what theyre watching.
All media is educational, Rich says not justSesame Street.Kids are taking cues on whats appropriate or expected behavior.
Emphasize how rare it is.
Remind them that its make-believe.
What About Porn?
Research suggests most children have seen sexually explicit material online by the time theyre 13.
I encourage parents and kids to be open about it, says Rich.
Not to pretend its not there.
How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?
Take heart: Its not a simple matter of hours in the day.
Domoff and colleagues have created a nine-item questionnaire for parents called the Problematic Media Use Measure.
Are they always scheming to get more TV time?
Does it interfere with friendships, family time, or schoolwork?
When my child has a bad day, is screen media the only thing that seems to help?
If this sets off alarm bells, Domoff suggests talking to your pediatrician.
Her lab is currently testing an intervention that relies on parents rebuilding a positive relationship with their children.
Praise behavior you want to see, and ignore behavior that you dont.
And dedicate time to playing with your kids on their own terms.
