A panel of experts gathered for a segment of "Talk With Your Doctor" at Channel 69 WFMZ-TV Feb. 17. The topic for the session was "Media and Children" and the discussion centered on the effects of television, computers, phones, apps and games on children.

The discussion was moderated by St. Luke's University Health Network spokesperson Doug Eberhart and Chief of Pediatrics Dr. Jennifer Janco.

Guest experts included Dr. Elizabeth Gibson, pediatrician with Coopersburg Pediatrics, child and adult psychotherapist Stuart Horowitz, LSW, LCSW, QCSW, ACSW and child/adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Olga Infante.

All are affiliated with St. Luke's University Health Network.

Janko began by saying, "The messages and images to which children are exposed can exert a powerful influence on how they see the world and interact with it."

The question being asked by many is what the impact of media on children is and how it affects their emotional health, communication skills and emotional development.

Gibson described the types of media children are exposed to as television, movies, playing video games, social media including Facebook, texting, Myspace and surfing on the Internet.

For many of us older folks, the only type of media we were exposed to as children was television.

After school, I would come home and watch "I Love Lucy" while having a snack. Then I would do my homework.

On Sunday evenings, we sat down together as a family and watched "The Ed Sullivan Show." There were other shows we watched; however, we only had one television, so we all watched together. There certainly weren't as many choices on television as there are today.

On weekends, in good weather, the children in the neighborhood were outside right after breakfast, home for lunch and back home for dinner.

We used our imaginations to create games and an assortment of adventures. If it was raining, we were in someone's basement.

If it was my basement, my sister and I used my mom's extra sheets and blankets, hung clotheslines and created a hospital where all of our dolls suffered from some illness. My sister always was the doctor and I had to be the nurse. She said it was because she was older.

It doesn't seem like there is time now for children to use their imaginations without the use of technology.

Horowitz said he is seeing more kids coming in to his practice with sleep disturbances, temper tantrums, irritability – all connected from the impact of social media.

Infante said she advises parents to get involved with what their children are doing "from the very beginning from when you set the rules. You need to know what they are doing."

Gibson said setting limits is very important. She said it is recommended children age 2 and under not consume any media whatsoever.

"Things are marketed for babies; they are not good for them," Gibson said.

A maximum of one to two hours a day of entertainment media for children age 2 and over is recommended, according to Gibson.

She said it is very important parents monitor the media activity of children. The doctors agreed Sesame Street, Barney and Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood have a positive effect on children.

She also recommended parents not have a computer or television in the child's bedroom; they need to be in a general area where the family can consume the media together.

In my home, the computer and television were always in a common area so I could monitor what was on the screen. I will say with complete certainty, I was a minority. Many of my sons' friends had either or both in the children's rooms.

I always enjoyed the, "So and So has one in their room, why can't I?"

Horowitz said there are positives and negatives to social media. Although video games help with eye-and-hand coordination, children become preoccupied and there is an addictive component to playing games – getting to the next level.

Interruptions to the game can lead to temper tantrums and anxiety. He said homework is not getting done and video games are taking priority, which is affecting their academic performance.

Infante said she sees young children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, developmental disorders, anxiety, depression, mood disorders and psychosis.

The doctors agreed parents must get involved and set rules and stucture for the children. They suggested having kids complete their homework first and then allowing a half-hour of video games.

"Parents need to set a good example," Gibson said. "Turn off the TV while kids are doing their homework."

The panel suggested families watch programs together to stimulate conversations.

"Children who use media constantly tend to isolate and have poor social skills," Horowitz said. "They become obsessed with the media and are not learning social skills for development."

Infante said youngsters with depression tend to isolate themselves. "If you see the child is isolating, always in their room, on the computer, find out what is going on," Infante said.

Regarding the right time for a child's first cellphone, Gibson suggested teen years when kids are by themselves for a few hours. She has seen kids as young as 2 with cellphones.

Horowitz advised parents to limit the child's access on the cell phone. Age, values of families, texting, games, Internet, etc. are considerations.

A caller to the show asked how dangerous it is for a young person looking for love on the Internet.

Horowitz reiterated the need for parents to monitor what is being shared.

"Children tend to give too much information about themselves which can be inappropriate," Horowitz said.

The panel was asked if crime dramas and reality shows are harmful to children.

Gibbons said children ages 8 or 9 are unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality.

She said studies show too much violence is associated with aggressive behavior. Too much television all day can lead to high rates of obesity and the person is twice as likely to smoke if consuming so much media.

Horowitz agreed, saying children learn through imitation and model behavior. They don't understand throwing a punch is fake and if they see someone being thrown on a mat, they don't realize the actors are trained for that. The children are at risk for harming themselves.

Infante warned parents to be very careful because vulnerable young people can go onto the Internet thinking they can believe anything they read or hear even though they don't know who is on the other side.

The panel advised parents to teach your children they are very important, they should value themselves and shouldn't put themselves in a dangerous situation. Educate your children on how dangerous it can be when the wrong information is disseminated.

Gibson encouraged parents to talk to children at a young age. Tell them it is never OK to take a picture of yourself wearing inappropriate attire or none at all. The picture is permanent. She advised parents to monitor what children are doing online. "Friend your child on Facebook. It is how you keep your finger on the pulse of things," Gibson said.

Regarding cyberbullying, Gibson encouraged the phrase "stop, block and tell." If another person attacks the child online via texts or Facebook often it is a lie or people pretend to be someone else. Children have a hard time with this.

Tell them you are going to stop it, block access from that person and tell parents, teachers and/or the authorities.

The Internet was not around when I was a child, so my parents didn't have to deal with those challenges.

As parents, we do need to monitor what our children are doing on the Internet.

Gibson said it is OK for your kids to be bored; that is when the creativity comes out.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are from being creative with my neighborhood friends.

I'm concerned social media will keep future generations from making such childhood memories and affect their social interaction skills.

What can we do to prevent this from happening?

Debbie Galbraith

editor

East Penn Press

Salisbury Press