Pediatricians and Schools Partnering in Media Education for Children

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This year the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have made “Children and the Media” one of its new strategic priorities. Our journal has published a host of studies on the effects of media — both good and bad — on children, which has helped the AAP as it turns attention to this topic. In addition to educating families about the media in our offices, we can advocate for homes and local schools to take a hard look at whether their media curriculum is being directed to better educate children and teens about the adverse — as well as beneficial — effects of media in shaping who they are and what they do with their lives. To help us think more about how pediatricians might partner with our school educators, Dr. Victor Strasburger, a national expert on the influence of media on children and teens, shares his thoughts in a commentary (doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-3213) this week. He challenges all of us to do more in regard to raising media awareness in our patients and families, and to join up with the schools in our community. If you haven’t thought about your role in raising media awareness in your community, this commentary will channel new energy into your efforts to do so. Read it instead of watching television, texting, or playing your favorite electronic game, and your patients will benefit as a result.