From TV to computers, tablets to smartphones, and other electronic devices, media does not only influence how children think and feel, but it can also affect their health and safety. When used responsibly and safely in moderation, media can provide many benefits for your kids. Quality programs and TV shows can be educational resources and expose children to various aspects of their world, including other cultures and important values. It can also raise awareness of current events and social issues, as well as provide information and ideas to enhance or aid in homework and school projects.
Depending on your child’s age, however, it’s important that they’re exposed to age-appropriate content only. We recommend monitoring the media that they’re consuming and paying attention to parental ratings for TV shows, movies, video games, and apps. For a full list of guidelines for ratings for each of these media forms, here’s a great resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics to read through and bookmark!
Following parental guidance for media is helpful for deciding what content your child absorbs, but think of it as a starting place. It’s still important to be mindful of what your child watches and listens to so that you can decide what’s appropriate for your child and ensure they’re not being exposed to content that is too mature for their age.
It is also beneficial to consume media together so that you can take notice of how your child interacts with the content and how it makes them feel. It will give you the chance to not only bond with your kids, but also take the opportunity to address and have conversations about important issues and values. Your child may even feel more comfortable opening up about their thoughts and feelings that they may not otherwise share. This can spark meaningful dialogues with them as a result.
Another important thing to keep in mind when it comes to media use is being aware of online dangers. There are many types of social media and internet challenges that pose a risk for your kids, as well as online predators who target children and teens. Talk to your kids about using precautions online, including avoiding giving out personal information to people they don’t know. Encourage them to use proper judgment and discuss the consequences of participating in harmful challenges.
In addition to monitoring content and online safety, it’s also essential that your child’s media consumption is a healthy amount. Spending too much time with screen devices can negatively impact your child’s health. Media should not take your kids away from participating in physical activities or having social interactions. When used in excess, your child can develop a higher risk of obesity and delays in learning and social skills. It can also lead to screen addiction and become a distraction while doing homework, affecting their school performance as a result.
To avoid this, set limitations on how much time your child can spend with electronic devices and communicate these boundaries to your kids. Also, discourage your child from using screens an hour before bed, as the light from screens can be stimulating and lead to poor sleep.
Keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends avoiding media use for children under 18 months and limiting use to one hour for kids between two and five.
If you’re looking for a place to start for setting media boundaries, we recommend using the Family Media Plan from the AAP.