The Mediatrician's Guide

'Finally! A caring, wise, and joyful guide to the possibilities and the perils of our increasingly more digital existence. As a producer and performer on screens large and small, I am deeply aware of their power to reflect our authentic selves and direct our relationships with others. Just as Free to Be...You and Me reminded us of our shared humanity, in this book, you will meet young people and their parents as they work with The Mediatrician, to optimize their health and development in a constantly evolving world. Dr. Rich's compassion, imagination, and warm humor serve as a compass for us all as we teach and learn from the next generation.' * Marlo Thomas, activist, actor and author * 'Parents, educators, and yes, even teenagers will all benefit from Dr. Rich's thoughtful, timely, and entertaining overview of what it means to grow up immersed in a world of digital ubiquity. His work demonstrates empathy, deep understanding, and strong prescriptions for what ails us all.' * John Battelle, Cofounder of WIRED; bestselling author; professor of practice, Northeastern University * 'Raising a child in an age of constant screens requires thoughtfulness navigating not only our own digital use but also our children's. We didn't know how to find a balance within it. Dr. Rich has taken his experiences and given us a roadmap to find that balance!' * Hank Azaria, Father, actor, and more than thirty characters on The Simpsons * 'Required reading for parents, educators, pediatricians, and technologists. More than a simple prescription for limiting screen time, it's a call to action for collaboration. Dr. Rich has created a framework, based on academic research and first-hand experience as a pediatrician and parent, for all grownups to work with their kids or students to create a plan for healthy use of media.' * Catherine Teitelbaum, Head of Family Trust, Amazon Kids * 'Through the voice of a parent, owning his own successes and failures as a parent, The Mediatrician provides explanations and practical approaches to navigating the digital world which our child shift into and out of. He also points out, albeit more gently than I might, that children mirror what they see. Since we grown-ups constantly shift our attention from one screen to another, it's not surprising that our children do the same. This book can help parents and children reconnect IRL while simultaneously teaching us all how to harness the good in our digital world.' * Stacy Drury, MD, PhD Psychiatrist-in-Chief, Boston Children’s Hospital, Chair of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School * 'When my wife and I were trying to navigate the digital world of devices and social media alongside our three teenage daughters, all roads led to the wonderful Dr. Michael Rich. Drawing on his experiences as a pediatrician and former filmmaker, he has the rare ability to offer seasoned and sensible guardrails as we all enter this brave new world together. This book is a must have, and will soon become your best friend, full of daily tips and long-lasting wisdom.' * Sanjay Gupta, MD, Associate Professor Neurosurgery, Emory University; Chief Medical Correspondent, CNN, #1 NYT and WSJ bestselling author * 'The Mediatrician's Guide is a godsend for the parent whose child is glued to their smartphone or laptop. Dr. Rich combines cutting-edge scientific research, deep wisdom about child development, and a pediatrician's calming voice to answer the questions parents have about how to raise healthy children in a world of screens. I learned so much from this indispensable companion for anyone who works with kids. Now I know how to answer all the questions I am getting from parents about boys and their devices.' * Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D., psychologist, author of Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys *