A ‘media-use’ family plan

The American Academy of Pediatrics urges parents to make a “media-use plan” for their families and set clear rules about TV, cellphones and other devices. Their suggestions include:

• For children under age 2, substitute unstructured play and human interaction for screen time. The opportunity to think creatively, problem-solve, and develop reasoning and motor skills is more valuable for the developing brain than passive media intake.

• For older children, take into account not only the quantity, but the quality and location of media use. Consider TVs, phones, tablets, and computers. The rules should be written down and agreed upon by all family members.

• Screens should be kept out of children’s bedrooms. Put in place a “media curfew” at mealtime and bedtime, putting all devices away or plugging them into a charging station for the night.

• Take an active role in your children’s media education by co-viewing programs with them and discussing the shows. Look for media choices that are educational or teach good values — such as empathy, racial, and ethnic tolerance. Choose programming that models good interpersonal skills for children to emulate.

• Be firm about not allowing your child to view content that is not age appropriate, such as shows or movies that feature sex, drugs, violence, etc. Movie and TV ratings exist for good reason, and online movie reviews also can help parents get informed about content and stick to their rules.

• The internet can be a wonderful place for learning. But it also is a place where kids can run into trouble. Keep the computer in a public part of your home, so you can check on what your kids are doing online and how much time they are spending there.

• Talk to your children about being good “digital citizens,” and discuss the serious consequences of online bullying. If your child is the victim of cyberbullying, it is important to take action with the other parents and the school, if appropriate. Attend to children’s and teens’ mental health needs promptly if they are being bullied online, and consider separating them from the social media platforms where bullying occurs.