Media Shopping Guide from CMCH

This holiday season, your kids’ wish lists are likely to include media such as Mp3 players, video games, cell phones, and DVDs. How do you decide what gifts are appropriate?

When evaluating how media gifts can fit into your child’s life, consider these general suggestions:

1. Make media a planned activity, not a default activity, and set time limits on your child’s TV viewing, computer-game playing, and Web-surfing.
2. Make sure that media content is appropriate for your child’s age and personality.
3. Keep the TV set and computer in common family areas, outside of your child’s bedroom.
4. Eliminate or minimize TV viewing before the age of 2.
5. Serve as a media role model. Talk with your children about media and any issues they raise.

When selecting media for your child, consider these suggestions.

If they ask for...

Video/Computer Games

• Consider... content. Educational games can be positive learning tools, whereas violent video games can increase aggression, increase fear, and decrease sensitivity to human suffering.
• Choose...a non-violent game. For example, choose a sports game instead of a first-person shooter. Use the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings as a guide to help you choose age-appropriate media.
• Set limits on the amount of time they play.

Movies

• Consider... content. Kids who see stars smoking are more likely to smoke themselves.
• Choose... movies based on a combination of MPAA ratings and parent reviews.
• Set limits on the amount of time they watch.

Cell Phones

• Consider... why your child wants or needs a cell phone.
• Select... a phone only if it’s appropriate for your child to have one, and make sure that whatever phone you choose is appropriate for your child’s needs. If he or she only needs the phone to contact you, consider getting one that doesn’t include lots of additional features.
• See related Q&A on Ask the Mediatrician: Should I give my 11-year-old the cell phone she wants?

Music

• Consider... content. Stereotyped portrayals of gender and race can give kids stereotyped views of themselves and others.
• Choose... music that you and your kids can enjoy together and that offers positive messages. Read parent reviews, or review the lyrics yourself by doing a web search for the artist and song name plus the word "lyrics."

>>See ideas for free gifts
>>See ideas for non-media gifts