5 Ways to Make Kids’ Media Use Safe and Healthy

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I think that there is a group of people in this world against something called education. try always to corrupt the schools, any place of learning. they want the media and technology to be in advanced of the ducation they want the next generation to use everyhting before knowing how to get use of it and how it effects you in a bad way.

dia of DE 3:47PM April 06, 2013

I totally agree with these suggestions. In addition, I'd have to ask, why would a kid or middle schooler need a phone with all the perks? Rather than giving him one of those contract phones with all the unlimited features including all the texting they want, calling they want (but hardly ever use) and internet access, why not give them a prepaid phone? These cell phones are of great quality and the service is also very good. TracFone for example has a great track record. But most importantly, the prepaids help kids understand how to manage their time and minutes which is a tangible value. It's really up to the parents, and the example they give their kids. If they are always on the phone or connected to a laptop, the kids will copy the behavior. But, if parents limit their calls and electronic usage time, the kids will learn how to set their own limits.

Muneca of IL 10:49PM March 31, 2011

Anything that transmits data is a form of media by the way.

vontriece hall of GA 11:43AM October 21, 2010

kids sould play outsidde more annd thhis is coming from a kid

toney of AL 6:31PM September 27, 2010

Any one who knows media in its current format knows that it is not a bad thing that kids are so intuned to media. As a father of three kids I fully grasp the potential negative effects some media can have, but what about the potential benefits. Kids in this study might be using a mp3 player while jogging, or researching for a project at school. This study makes it seem like all the kids in this study spend hours upon hours each day sitting in front of the TV playing while playing games on their computer. Fact is many are exploring the world out there. With the advent of devices like the Kindle, kids can even read books plugged in as media. There are school districts that are grasping this trend and are moving to a more media friendly way of instructing. If we as adults try to limit beneficial media, we will be placing our kids at a disadvantage for the future. Yes negative media should be monitored, but let us not restrict media based on a survey that does not take everything into play. By the way, if our kids are spending up to 11 hours plugged into various media forms a day, what does that say about us. Isn't my satelite radio that I listen to in my car media, what about the PC at my work that allows me to make a living, or cell phone that has replaced my home phone. I think a few years ago they did not include landlines in this discussion where they do include cell phones. Anything that transmits data is a form of media by the way. Technically newspapers,magazines, and books are forms of media. Are we saying we need to limit our kids time on these?

Jason of TX 12:24PM January 21, 2010

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On Parenting

Parenting may be an art, but there's a lot of science behind raising healthy, thriving children. Contributing Editor Nancy Shute explores the latest discoveries and developments affecting children's health and parenting. Send her your comments and questions at onparenting@usnews.com.

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