Adolescents and the Media

"The easiest way to get teenagers to adopt a certain behavior is to make it seem as if everyone is doing it."  This quote from Pediatric Annals sums up the effect of media on teenagers perfectly.  For teens the media can have both positive and negative influences but unfortunately it is mostly negative.

Teenagers see 2000 beer commercials a year. Also violence and sex are ubiquitous in the media.  The media portrays drinking, smoking, and sex as fun and commonplace.  It rarely shows the negative consequences of these behaviors.

So, what's a parent to do?  Actually the answer is the same as for younger kids.
1. Make sure your teen is watching / playing age appropriate tv / video games.  Become familiar with the rating systems.  Also there is often information available online or in the newspaper geared to parents as to what is in a movie that might be inappropriate for certain ages.
2. Talk with you teen about media pitfalls before they occur.  Some subjects include "sexting", internet bullying, and what is appropriate to post on social media such as Facebook.
3. Consume media with your teens.  Watch tv and movies together, listen to their choice of music with them, friend them on Facebook.  Not only will you have fun with your teen but by doing these things together you can more easily discuss sensitive topics.  Try not to lecture your teen instead ask them questions about what do they think about something. Or what would they do in a particular situation.  You often get very entertaining answers!

Free Family Event on Saturday Oct. 16

Chandler is hosting a Day of Play at Tumbleweed Park this Sat. from 8-12am.  This is a free festival celebrating health.  It is sponsored by Shape Up US.  There will be inflatables, NFL Alumni, team mascots such as the Suns Gorilla and Diamondbacks Baxter, booths, and live entertainment. What a fun way to spend a nice morning with the family!

TV Viewing and Childhood Obesity

I"m going to continue our discussion on the effect of media on children.  This information was taken from Pediatric Annals September 2010.

Children are now spending more time watching TV than any other activity other than sleeping.  There is evidence that increased TV viewing is related to increased weight in children. There are several reasons how TV contributes to weight gain.

For one, increased use of media (TV, video games, computer) displaces time spent doing more physical activities.

Secondly, TV viewing influences dietary habits.  Children are exposed to 5,500 food and beverage advertisements a year.  Most of these foods are high in salt, fat, and sugar.  Studies show that children exposed to these ads eat 45% more regardless if they are hungry or not.  My husband hates food ads on late night TV because he says they always make him feel hungry!  Also, studies show an association of heavy TV viewing and frequent snacking. When watching TV while eating it is hard for a child (or adult!) to pay attention to how much they are eating and are less likely to stop when they are full.

Thirdly, TV viewing at bedtime can contribute to sleep problems.  More than two-thirds of children have a TV in their bedroom.  Many parents think that TV is calming and that it helps their child sleep but it actually contributes to problems falling asleep.  Decreased sleep is a risk factor for obesity in children.

Experts recommend parents do several things.
1.  Remove the TV from your child's bedroom.  This decreases overall screen time and helps with sleep.
2. Turn the TV off while eating.  This way children and adults can concentrate on what they are eating and increase family time.
3. Encourage mindful viewing.  Have your child pick a specific show or two to watch and then turn it off.  Watch TV with your child and discuss the content with them.