A major disaster is now in the making: Kids are becoming Addicted to Media.
Parents MUST start right now to organize young children’s and their own media lives or have less happy, less creative kids hopelessly addicted to technology
Two studies reported today should alarm parents: Middle schoolers who are allowed to watch R-rated movies are more likely to use alcohol later (Dartmouth) and most college students are already “addicted” to media and suffer serious symptoms when withdrawn (University of Maryland). Together with other studies and recent reports by the Pew and Kaiser Family Foundations, an alarming picture is emerging.
Limiting access, filtering, and restricting are just not enough. Parents must commit themselves to a new mind set that includes planning and organizing kids’ media lives, beginning in their very early years, just as they do the feeding and schooling of their children. “Healthy media consumption must become part of normal family life. Parents need to review seriously how they themselves and how their young kids use media at home. The only reason to have technology at home is to improve family life and child development. Otherwise, kids are at risk for harm. The time is now for all parents to take this matter seriously. Things are moving fast, and parents have no time to waste,” according to Dr. Eitan Schwarz, distinguished child psychiatrist and author of “KIDS, PARENTS & TECHNOLOGY: A GUIDE FOR YOUNG FAMILIES” (published by www.mydigitalfamily.org).
“Technology is evolving faster than our ability to use it in healthy ways. After over a decade of increasing and chaotic media use by kids, there is no evidence of clear benefits and increasing evidence of harm. Being a parent in out time includes planning healthy media lives for kids. All parents must now become confident and take charge, and now they have the guidance they need,” according to Dr. S.
Sources:
NyDailyNews.com/lifestyle/2010/04/27/2010-04-27_college_students_are_addicted_to_social_media_and_even_experience_withdrawal_sym
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-04-26-rmovies26_ST_N.htm?csp=usat.me
A major disaster is now in the making: Kids are becoming Addicted to Media and Parents are Helpless
A major disaster is now in the making: Kids are becoming Addicted to Media.
Parents MUST start right now to organize young children’s and their own media lives or have less happy, less creative kids hopelessly addicted to technology
Two studies reported today should alarm parents: Middle schoolers who are allowed to watch R-rated movies are more likely to use alcohol later (Dartmouth) and most college students are already “addicted” to media and suffer serious symptoms when withdrawn (University of Maryland). Together with other studies and recent reports by the Pew and Kaiser Family Foundations, an alarming picture is emerging.
Limiting access, filtering, and restricting are just not enough. Parents must commit themselves to a new mind set that includes planning and organizing kids’ media lives, beginning in their very early years, just as they do the feeding and schooling of their children. “Healthy media consumption must become part of normal family life. Parents need to review seriously how they themselves and how their young kids use media at home. The only reason to have technology at home is to improve family life and child development. Otherwise, kids are at risk for harm. The time is now for all parents to take this matter seriously. Things are moving fast, and parents have no time to waste,” according to Dr. Eitan Schwarz, distinguished child psychiatrist and author of “KIDS, PARENTS & TECHNOLOGY: A GUIDE FOR YOUNG FAMILIES” (published by www.mydigitalfamily.org).
“Technology is evolving faster than our ability to use it in healthy ways. After over a decade of increasing and chaotic media use by kids, there is no evidence of clear benefits and increasing evidence of harm. Being a parent in out time includes planning healthy media lives for kids. All parents must now become confident and take charge, and now they have the guidance they need,” according to Dr. S.
Sources:
NyDailyNews.com/lifestyle/2010/04/27/2010-04-27_college_students_are_addicted_to_social_media_and_even_experience_withdrawal_sym
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-04-26-rmovies26_ST_N.htm?csp=usat.me