Articles From the Mainstream Press

Babies/Young Children and e-Media:

Unplug the Kids (Cincinnati Enquirer, Nov 2011) - an article by blue manatee's Dr. John Hutton discussing current viewing statistics, reasons why e-media use is increasing among the very young, "education" as a marketing tool, virtualization of childhood, health risks of excessive viewing, and the opportunities and developmental/health benefits presented by keeping kids "unplugged" until they are at least 3 years old. Read the article (pdf): Part 1.  Part 2.

Why Books Are Better than e-Books for Children (The New York Times Motherlode blog, Dec 2011)

Baby Einsteins: Not So Smart After All (Time, August 2007)

Study: Want a smart baby? TV's not going to help (CNNHealth.com, March 2009)

3 Ways Electronic Media Harm Kids' Health and 3 Ways They Can Help (US News & World Report, March 2010)

Toddlers and TV: Early Exposure Has Negative and Long-Term Impact (Science Daily, May 2010).

Risks: Television Time and Children's Eyes (The New York Times, April 2011).

Rx: Read To Your Baby (New York Times Education and Life, April 2011).  It's never too early!  

Complaint filed to FTC over Your Baby Can Read! - Today show coverage of FTC complaint of deceptive marketing of baby videos.
 

Older Kids/Tweens/Teens and e-Media:

Web-Addicted Chinese Teens Prone to Depression (AOL News, 2010) - a 2-year study of Taiwanese teens finds a strong link between heavy Internet use and social isolation and depression.  Aggressive behavior and ADHD were major risk factors for Internet addiction in this group.

Study Finds Some Youths 'Addicted' to Video Games (Washington Post, 2009): Summary of a 2009 study of video game addiction among kids 8-18.  

Many Parents Fret Over Time Kids Spend on Phones, Computers (Bloomberg Business Week, August 2010)

Digital Overload: Your Brain On Gadgets (NPR, August 2010) - a New York Times Pulitzer-winning technology reporter discusses the neurological effects of multitasking.

Study: Facebook and MySpace Enhance the Positive Relationships Kids Already Have (Barking Robot blog, 2010): Summary of a 2010 Developmental Psychology study which found that well-adjusted kids are most likely to use the Internet and social media in well adjusted ways, i.e. to enhance friendships and communicate.  The importance of engaged parenting to keep track of kids and their online world was stressed.

Fixated by Screens, but Seemingly Nothing Else (New York Times, May 2011) - examines the relationship between excessive screen time and ADHD. 

Does Heavy Media Use Make Teen Girls Less Happy?  (New York TImes, Jan 2012) - examines a recent study suggesting a connection between heavy e-media use and decreased social skills and happiness in teen girls. 

Parents and e-Media:

How About Better Parents?  (New York Times, Nov 2011) - a discussion of the importance of (and strong evidence for) parental engagement, notably regularly reading to young children, to academic achievement.   

The Risks of Parenting While Plugged In (New York Times, June 2010) - from an ongoing series Your Brain on Computers, explores the effects of handheld devices and "always on" connectivity on parenting and parental engagement.

 

Academic Effects, Tips, and Trends:

2010 College Board Survey Shows Decreasing American College Degree Attainment.

Helping Children Limit Distractions.  (Ezine @rticles, 2010).  Ways that parents can help kids avoid the pitfalls of "multitasking" and electronic media distractions to best complete their homework and other responsibilities, thus maximizing their odds of success.

In Classroom of the Future, Stagnat Scores (New York Times, September 3, 2011): Examines the push to integrate compter technology into classrooms for younger and younger kids, at considerable expense including sacrifice of traditional programs such as art and PE, despite a lack of evidence that it has significant positive impact on performance and test scores.  

 

Unstructured/Creative Play:

Toddlers to Tweens: Relearning how to play (Christian Science Monitor, 2012).

Unplug and Play: the Importance of Old-Fashioned Fun in a High-Tech World (iParenting, McGraw-Hill, 2000).  

Play Is Not A Four-Letter Word: Remembering the Importance of Playtime (iParenting, McGraw-Hill, 2000).

Cardboard Box (National Toy Hall of Fame inductee, Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester, NY, 2006).

The Serious Need for Play (Scientific American, February 2009).

Healthy, Happy Kids: A Child at Play Will Stay at Play (e-Bility.com, Center For Creative Play, 2010).

Effort to Restore Children’s Play Gains Momentum (New York Times, January 2011).