Q. Are violent images on the nightly news harmful to children? If so, what can parents do to minimize the affect of this exposure?

A. The short answer is “Yes,” what children see on the news can be harmful. And while parents cannot completely protect children from outside events that they see on TV, we can help them to feel safe and to have a better understanding the world around them. A recent report by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) entitled “Children and the News” explored this important social issue. Following are some simple guidelines you can follow to limit affect of violence in the news on your child:

• Monitor the amount of time your child watches news shows
• Make sure that you have adequate time and a quiet place to talk if you anticipate that the news is going to be troubling
• Watch the news with your child
• Ask the child what he/she has heard and what questions he/she may have
• Provide reassurance regarding his/her own safety in simple words emphasizing that you are going to be there to keep him/her safe
• Look for signs that the news may have triggered anxieties such as sleeplessness, fears, bedwetting, crying, or talking about being afraid

Melvin P. Melnick, MD
Bradley Medical Director

For more information on children's issues, please contact our Admissions Department at 412-767-5460 or e-mail bcintake@thebradleycenter.org