Parenting the Plugged-In Child
Wednesday November 6, 2013
Laura Dewey, PhD
Pediatric Psychologist
Nemours/AIDHC: “Growing Together”
Ursuline Dallas Graduation
Goals of Presentation
Relevant Research
Tips for Setting Boundaries
Discussion
Relevant Research
Prevalence of Media Use
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Kaiser Family Foundation study in 2008-2009
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Over 2000 3rd to 12th grade students completed a survey and
over 700 students tracked media use for a week
Results for 8-18 year olds:
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For 8-18 year olds, 7:38 was the average time spent watching
TV, listening to music, playing video games, using the computer,
watching movies (in the theater), and using print media
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Did not distinguish multitasking, educational use, phone/texting
76% own an mp3 player
66% own a cell phone
29% own a laptop (by their report)
33% have internet access in the bedroom
Rideout V. (2010). Generation M2: Media in theLives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds. Kaiser Family Foundation: Menlo Park, CA.
Guidelines from the AAP
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O’Keefe, G.W. & Clarke-Pearson, K. (2011). Clinical
Report: The impact of social media on children,
adolescents and families. Pediatrics, 127 (4), 800-804.
American Academy of Pediatrics Council on
Communications and Media (2011). Policy statement:
children, adolescents, obesity and the media.
Pediatrics, 128(1), 201-208.
Benefits of Media Use
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Socialization and Communication
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Supplement learning
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Homework and group projects
Transfers to real world expectations
Increased ways to access information quickly and efficiently
Preparation for a digital world
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Connect with friends
Broaden community (e.g., involvement in charities)
Enhance creative thinking
Foster sense of identity
Exposure to diverse ideas
Typing skills, multitasking, innovative thinking
Increase access to information
Risks of Media Use
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Risk for obesity and sleep disturbance (AAP guidelines)
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Excess use associated with depression/emotional problems
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Exacerbated with violent, interactive videogames
May interfere with developmentally critical activities
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Based on self-report on a general “wellbeing” questionnaire
Violent content associated with risk for aggression in children
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Increased sedentary activity
Unhealthy eating (advertisements, increased snacking)
Late-night screen time
School work, sports, social skills
May interfere with family life
Boundaries
Guidelines from the AAP
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Infants < 2 years: 0 hours of screen time/day
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Children > 2 years: <2 hours of screen time/day
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Avoid TV sets and internet connections in bedrooms
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Co-view with children
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Limit nighttime screen media use
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And enforce a healthy nighttime routine
Remember, screen time =non-educational!
Why are Boundaries Important?
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Would you let your child drive a car without instructions
and limits?
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Promotes the benefits of media use while encouraging
well-rounded development
Allows you and your child to have rules established ahead
of time
Consider the temperament of your child!
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Every child and family is different
No “one size fits all” approach
Anticipate your own child’s particular difficulties
Ways to Set Boundaries
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Be knowledgeable about social media!
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Ask your child to teach you, get a facebook account, explore current
sites, etc.
Know the legal rules
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Facebook’s age limit is 13 years (see “Terms”)
Twitter does not have an age limit
Youtube’s might be 13? Difficult to find on the website
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Youtube: “Safety link” has a brief (1:46) video that highlights privacy,
bullying, and internet “street smarts”
Helpful Websites
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http://safetynet.aap.org/
www.netlingo.com, www.noslang.com
www.netsmartz.org, www.parentfurther.com
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Netsmartz has information geared to parents, children, and teens
Teaching Responsible Media Use
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Model balance to your children
Abide by the family rules that are set
Create opportunities for physical, social, and family
activities
Encourage “good citizenship”
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Respect facebook’s 13-year-old age limit
Concerns with Setting Boundaries
Lenient…
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Won’t my child be
ostracized?
Won’t my child get mad at
me?
Won’t my child just find a
way around my limits?
Harsh…
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Shouldn’t I monitor
everything?
Shouldn’t I protect my
child more?
Won’t something bad
happen?
These are the same concerns that come with any
parenting decision! Decide what works for your child
and your family. Trust your gut.
Tips for Setting Boundaries
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Approach the topic in a matter-of-fact manner
Set clear rules ahead of time – and when you might intervene
Establish that social media is a privilege, not a right
Make sure all caregivers are on the same page
Remind them that decisions they make are permanent in the
digital media world
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*provide relevant examples
Review both positives and negatives about digital media use
Establish a balance with other activities
Remember…
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No one has all the answers
Establish rules ahead of time
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“stalking” versus “monitoring”
Know your own child and what has worked/been
problematic in the past
Use resources to remain knowledgeable
Connect with other parents/sources of support
Warning Signs
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Decreased grades
Increased withdrawal/moodiness
Changes in amount of digital media use (e.g., too much
AND too little)
Impact on social or family life
Discussion
Thank you!