Last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released the Media Use by Children Younger Than Two Years policy statement, which addresses the impact of having young children in front of a screen of some kind (i.e. television, computer, mobile device). Over the past 10 years, there has been more research on the subject, leading to a greater understanding of the impact of media use in young children. The biggest element to come out of the policy statement is the recommendation that children younger than age of 2 should be “screen free” as much as possible. We asked Thomas Hobson, director of Child Life at Le Bonheur, to weigh in on the new recommendation. Here’s what he had to say:

Now, I realize that most parents have been guilty of putting their young child in front a screen, even if it’s every once and again. Most folks even rationalize it by putting on “educational videos” that are geared toward making your baby or child smarter. The intent is good, but unfortunately, research does not show any benefit of the videos. Fear not, there is something that parents and families can do to help make their baby smarter.

What’s even better for kids’ brains and is “screen free?” Play.

That’s right -- play can make your young child smarter. As a matter of fact, in child development circles, play is seen as the serious work of childhood. It is how young children explore their environment, master skills, try on new roles, and learn any of number of skills that will last them a lifetime. At Le Bonheur, we realize the importance of play and use it to help children adjust to hospital setting.

The great thing is that play comes naturally to young kids. Parents should encourage play, especially within a safe environment. They should also join in on the fun. Not only will you be bonding with your child, as the parent, but you’ll also be allowing her to learn and achieve more than if she did played alone. This kind of play helps children to reach important developmental milestones.

Children learn through interaction and play. Think about learning something yourself. Would you learn more through watching someone do something? Or through being involved and trying it yourself? For instance, think about an infant’s reaction when you threaten to tickle him. You can watch the developmental milestone of anticipation develop. At first the baby may only laugh when tickled, but after a while, he begins to laugh before being tickled. The child is learning to anticipate the interaction.

Play is the best way for your young child to learn. There’s no need for videos and movies that promise big things. Instead, go with the tried-and-true route that empowers you to help your child’s development. Just play, do what comes naturally and follow your child’s lead.

Oh, and did I mention that play is free?

For many parents, the new world of social media and ever-changing technology is a scary place. While words like “tweet” and “sext” may seem foreign to us, they’re part of a language our teens and pre-teens fluently speak. Today’s generation of kids is constantly communicating, whether through Facebook, cell phones or other social media websites, and it’s up to parents to make sure they’re being safe about it. Repercussions of inappropriate online behaviors can be long lasting, so how can you protect your kids?

Michael Massey is program manager for Le Bonheur’s teen pregnancy prevention program Be Proud! Be Responsible! Memphis! He urges parents to talk to their kids about the topic of social media and “sexting” sooner rather than later.

“According to one survey of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 22 percent of girls and 18 percent of boys say they have electronically sent or posted nude or semi-nude images of themselves on the internet,” said Massey.

“Sexting” is the term used to refer to sending a text message with pictures of children or teens that are inappropriate, naked or engaged in sex acts. These pictures and messages aren’t private. Teens should be told that once you send a picture, you have no control over who views it.

“They can’t know if others might forward their pictures or messages to people they do not know or want to see them,” Massey adds.

School administrators and future employers often look at online profiles to make judgments about potential students or employees. And there are legal ramifications to “sexting,” too.  Some teens are facing child pornography charges for sending nude images to other teens.

“So talk sooner than later, monitoring daily, if not hourly, and help your kids understand the consequences and repercussions of being inappropriate online or via the cell phone,” says Massey.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also has some helpful recommendations for parents:
 •Learn about these technologies first hand. Make a profile for yourself and monitor your kid’s profile.
 •Let your kids know their use of technology is something you want and need to know about. Ask them daily: “Have you used the computer and Internet today?”
 •Keep the computer in a public part of your home, such as the family room or kitchen.
 •Talk with other parents about what their kids of similar ages are using for social media. Use that information as a starting point for discussion with your kids.
 •For all ages, emphasize that everything sent over the Internet or a cell phone can be shared with the entire world, so it is important they use good judgment in sending messages and pictures.
 •Have your kids and teens show you where the privacy features are for every social media venues they are using.
 •Consider using formal monitoring systems to track your child’s e-mail, chat and image content. Parental controls on your computer or from your Internet service provider are good options.
 •Set time limits for Internet and cell phone use.

Jenny Shelton, MSW, CCLS and Child Life Manager at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital shares her professional expertise in talking to children about violence and shielding them from it. This is good advice to follow for any parent struggling with this issue.

"Children are susceptible to hearing and watching violent events being re-told in the news.  Violence in today’s media can make children feel frightened, unsafe and insecure.  Children, unfortunately, must cope with tough issues such as violence at increasingly earlier ages, often before they are developmentally able to understand the aspects of complex situations.  Parents and other caring adults have the opportunity to talk with their children about these issues first, before anyone else does.

It is important for parents to develop open communication with their children.  Parents should provide straightforward and simplistic answers to their questions.  If you do not know the answer, admit it and then find out the information to explore together.  Second, encourage children to talk about their thoughts and feelings regarding something they have heard or seen.  If you sense that a violent event (fictional or real) has upset your child, take time and ask how they felt about it. 

When it comes to violence in the media, parents need to be proactive and monitor their child’s viewing.  Studies have shown that watching too much violence whether on TV, in the movies, or in video games can increase the chance that children will be desensitized to violence or become more aggressive themselves.  It is important to pay attention to the kinds of media that your children watch or play.  Try watching TV or playing a video game with your child and talk to them about the things that you see together.  Let your children know why violent TV, movies and games disturb you and help them understand the consequences of violence.  Finally, watch the news and other media with your child to enable conversations about current events and help your child better understand what is happening in the world around them."