Author(s): Michael Rich; Teresa H. Barker

Parenting

Dr. Michael Rich, dubbed the "Mediatrician" thanks to his acclaimed work as a pediatrician, child health researcher, and children's media specialist, offers a science-backed approach to give parents the confidence they need to raise a child well (and to raise a well child) in the digital age.

Children are growing up in a world of screens. They move seamlessly back and forth in a physical-digital environment. But parents are both worried and confused about when and how to introduce tablets, smartphones, even television. When it comes to navigating kids' use of media, all-or-nothing approaches are doomed to fail. Giving children free reign over their screen use carries potential risks to their physical and mental health and their emotional and social development. Yet rejecting digital media is undesirable (and probably impossible), since today's kids must navigate that realm to succeed in school and the world in which, as adults, they'll be expected to function well in a technology-rich environment. So how do we help young people establish mastery of screens and harness them for healthy development and social engagement 

Features include:

• Ask the Mediatrician: questions and answers based on Dr. Rich's long-running advice column and podcast
• Media Rx: prescriptive content based on insights from the Digital Wellness Lab and CIMAID
• Let's Chat: detailed discussions of special topics in media use and how to talk with your child about them
• Digital Wellness Toolkit: a one-stop guide for actionable advice that you can customize for your family's specific needs

Backed by evidence as well as decades of professional and personal practice, The Mediatrican's Guide will give parents peace of mind and kids much-needed tools to navigate digital media for the rest of their lives.