Talking to Kids about the Earthquake in Japan

By Adair Parr, M.D.

Our hearts and condolences go out to the people of Japan and the families involved in the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan last week. 

Everyone has seen the live images, captured on cell phones and video cameras, coming from Japan.  They are vivid, dramatic, compelling, and scary.  We have all watched the coverage on television and online as more and more photos and videos circulate showing the massive tsunami wave rolling over the sea wall, shaking houses and buildings, fires, explosions,  and the massive destruction afterwards.  The subsequent explosions of the nuclear reactor and news of a nuclear reactor meltdown near Sendei, Japan are also extremely disturbing. 

Our 24 hour news cycle enhances the impact of these images which can be traumatizing for viewers of all ages.  Media has a particularly powerful influence on children and adolescents, and the pictures it shows shapes a child’s perception of the world.  Young children watching images of disaster believe that the event is happening in real time, and they’re in danger.  At such times, helping children feel safe and protected in their own home and community is important.  Parents should keep in mind the following tips when viewing photos and videos during and after disasters:

• Be vigilant!  Not all sources of media provide warnings about upcoming traumatic images.


• Viewing traumatic images may be re-traumatizing.


• Limit children’s exposure to media coverage of the event.


• Co-view media coverage of the trauma and discuss content with children and adolescents.


• Encourage children to draw, write, play music, and exercise in ways to express their feelings about the traumatic events.


• Maintain structure and family routines. 

HealthyMinds.org has more information on how to talk to your children about disasters.

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Posted in: Adair Parr MD,children,disaster psychiatry,natural disasters,parenting,television

“What do I tell my kids?” Tips for talking to children about the Gulf Oil Spill

By Molly McVoy, M.D.





I did a quick Google search of kids and the Gulf oil spill, and I found everything from “Why are they killing all the birds and sea turtles?” to resources for environmentally minded children on how to start an environmental action plan of their own.





The oil spill in the gulf coast has many worried, from children through adults. The resources for how to talk to them are varied and sometimes confusing. Below are some basic tips for talking to children about the oil spill threatening the gulf coast.





Talking to your children about disasters can be challenging. Children ask tough questions and it can be difficult to know how best to answer them. However, times like this, during disasters, can be a golden opportunity with your children. When current events are scary or confusing, it can be a great opportunity for parents to show their children that there are people to help them and the country get through them.





The best advice I can give for talking to children about anything, but disasters in particular, is this - be honest, be simple and repeat, repeat, repeat. Don’t force your child to talk about the oil spill, but, if they ask, tell them the truth in language that fits with their age. Children know if they’re being told the truth, so answer them as simply and straightforwardly as you can. But, being a child, they will likely ask again and again (and again!). It’s okay if you have to repeat yourself, it’s the open dialogue and the reassurance that children are looking for during times of crisis.





So, as Bill Cosby said of fatherhood “You just need a lot of love and luck - and, of course, courage.”

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Posted in: children,coping,crisis,disaster psychiatry,Molly McVoy MD,natural disasters,parenting,television

The Value of Media Education for Kids

By Roberto Blanco, M.D.



Why do companies spend millions of dollars per second advertising during the Super Bowl? Because, as much as we may not like to believe it, direct advertising works in shaping people´s needs, wants, and product preferences. While children and adolescents may not always watch the Super Bowl, they are the population most susceptible to the effects of direct advertising.



This is likely because children and adolescents are still developing their senses of reality, identity, and morality, have limited life experiences and lack the skills or the developmental level to analyze the barrage of advertisements they are exposed to. All of these factors make the promise of happiness coming from a happy meal seem more plausible to a child.



I recently saw a story on CNN about the effects of an advertising campaign on the cigarette brand preferences of underage girls. The print ad in question paired lipstick, high heels, jewelry, fancy dresses and neon lights with a particular brand of cigarettes. After this ad ran in Vogue and Glamour magazine for a year, the percentage of underage girls that preferred this brand of cigarettes increased from 10% to 22%.



Experts also estimated that this advertisement was likely responsible for influencing 174,000 underage girls to start smoking. Seeing the results of this study, it is clear that in order for our children to remain healthy, happy, and safe, we must educate them on how to interpret and critically analyze media advertising.



Media can affect a number of behaviors in addition to those related to shopping. Numerous studies over the past 40 years have shown that exposure to dramatized violence leads to increased aggressive behavior. The evidence shows that the younger the child is when exposed and the more real the violence is, the more it will affect the child. Studies have been conducted for many forms of media, including TV, movies, and video games. Studies have also shown protective effects of counseling children regarding alternatives to the violence that they watched.



I recently wrote a blog on the topic of cybersafety for kids where I highlighted the value of communication, regular monitoring, and limiting the amount and types of internet access that a child is exposed to based on age and maturity. Well, the same rules should generally apply for other types of media such as TV, video games, movies, and magazines. In fact, all of these media are also readily available on the internet.



Media education and exposing our children to appropriate media are critical aspects to parenting. Doing so will allow your children to critically analyze what they are being exposed to. If you would like to learn more about media education or how to educate your kids you can go to Canada´s advanced media education program which provides more information. You can also direct your children to go to PBS´ media website to educate themselves.

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Posted in: children,television

Pull The Plug! Television and Our Children

By Gariane Phillips Gunter, M.D.



Research and studies over the past 10 years have shown that heavy television watching may in fact lead to serious health consequences. According to the A.C. Nielsen Co. statistics, in a 65-year life, a person will have spent 9 years glued to the tube! However, what is becoming more and more evident, is our children’s excessive exposure to television. The following statistics regarding our children are astounding:





• Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 3.5 minutes





• Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680 minutes





• Percentage of parents who would like to limit their children’s TV watching: 73%





• Percentage of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked to choose between watching TV and spending time with their fathers, preferred television: 54%





• Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours





• Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500 hours



The dates for TV Turnoff Week 2010 are April 19-25 and September 19-25. Let’s unplug our children!



During TV Turnoff Week families can:



• Go for a walk after dinner instead of watching TV,





• Dust off the board games in your hall closet and have a family game night,





• Grab a pen and paper and create your own game of charades,





• Read a book together,





• Or just talk with each other.

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Posted in: children,television

Might limiting our exposure to TV make us happier?

By Roberto Blanco, M.D.



Do you ever find yourself feeling hopeless during the evening news? According to a recently published study by University of Maryland Sociologists Robinson and Martin, it appears that it is not just the evening news that is contributing to our unhappiness.



The study, conducted over the last 30 years, showed that self-reported unhappiness was closely linked to the amount of time spent watching TV. The people who reported to be the happiest spent more time reading and socializing instead of sitting in front of the TV.



These results suggest that even when we can “escape” the news to lighter programming, we are still receiving negative messages: that we are not attractive enough, that we should own more things, or that we should have the unattainable lives that are being portrayed. The programs are often entertaining, but the benefits are short-lived. And in the long run, they may be doing more harm than good. The results of the University of Maryland study indicate that limiting our exposure to TV may help us live happier lives.



In the hopes of making you and your family happier, here are a few things you can do to limit TV watching:



Limit the number of hours per night that you spend in front of the television. Pick alternative activities such as reading or exercising to do after work.



Limit the number of hours that your children can spend in front of the television. Set a timer and be consistent. Encourage exercise and outdoor play as much as completing homework , chores and other responsibilities.



Plan family time or an outing for your family that does not involve the TV. Go for a walk, to a park, or to the local public library.



Be an active TV watcher. Pick out the programs you want to watch during the week in advance and stick to your choices. Pick TV programs that are educational, positive, or contribute in some way to your experience of the world. Purchase a recorder for TV programs that you would like to watch and make TV fit your schedule and not the other way around.



Carefully monitor the shows your young children are watching. Studies show that the younger children are, the more they will be affected by scary or violent programming.



If all else fails, get rid of the cable box or Satellite dish. At a cost of $60 per month, getting rid of cable or the dish can save us over $700 per year. This will not only improve your mental health, but your financial health as well.











9PAZK9VY4VER 

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Posted in: happiness,television

Knowledge is Power

By Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D.

When it comes to mental health, knowledge is power. As host of the Healthy Minds public television series, my goal is to provide people with information about psychiatric conditions and treatment. I interview experts who provide cutting edge information and more importantly, I speak with people who have sought treatment for a mental health issue.

One of the most moving interviews was with Jennifer Crane, a veteran who served in Afghanistan. She spoke about her experiences with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how treatment is helping her recover. She has received treatment through the Give an Hour program, which is sponsored by the American Psychiatric Foundation.



The combination of medical and scientific information with the real life experiences of individuals and their families provides our audience with new knowledge and insights about mental health. I hope the show will open up conversations in families and inspire people to seek help. In addition to PTSD, topics include autism, chemical dependency, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and suicide prevention.



As we plan for future episodes of Healthy Minds, I would very much appreciate your comments, ideas and questions. And, remember, when it comes to mental health, knowledge is power.

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Posted in: autism,bipolar disorder,PTSD,television