Meet Dr. Michael Rich, MD, a Harvard Medical School Associate Professor and pediatrician at Boston Children's Hospital. He founded the Digital Wellness Lab and the Clinic for Interactive Media Disorders and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed papers on children's media use and digital wellness.
Dr. Michael Rich offers a realistic assessment of our media-saturated world, debunking screen time myths and presenting a balanced approach to integrating media into family life that is both responsive to children's needs and responsible to their developmental limitations.
Dr. Rich shares the story of Nikki and her mom, one of his patients, to illustrate a thoughtful strategy to the common conflict between adolescents' desire for privacy and parents' need to monitor online activities, offering a path toward mutual understanding and trust.
In the arts—like filmmaking—and in life, rules are made to be broken. Expectations, however, affect everyone involved. Dr. Rich offers a set of family expectations that empower kids to develop the responsibility they need while giving parents the freedom to guide and support them effectively.
Our distracted brains once gave us a massive evolutionary advantage—being attuned to the slightest movements in nature helped us avoid becoming prey and catch our own. Fast forward to the 21st century, and that same distractible brain struggles to focus in class when media offers endless stimuli.
Boredom is the foundation of creativity. Dr. Rich emphasizes the importance of off-screen time, boredom, and free play. He also distinguishes between digital connectivity and genuine human connection, offering practical advice on how to cultivate both in a balanced way.
With a pragmatic approach, Dr. Rich clarifies the distinction between addiction and Problematic Interactive Media Use (PIMU), offering a hopeful and actionable path to address and manage these challenges effectively. He provides insights into understanding the nuances of PIMU and practical strategies for intervention.
With a message of calm and hope, Dr. Rich concludes his class by offering parents a concrete, actionable roadmap for guiding their children in the digital age. He empowers parents with practical strategies to foster a balanced relationship between their children and technology.
Meet Dr. Michael Rich, MD, a Harvard Medical School Associate Professor and pediatrician at Boston Children's Hospital. He founded the Digital Wellness Lab and the Clinic for Interactive Media Disorders and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed papers on children's media use and digital wellness.
Dr. Michael Rich offers a realistic assessment of our media-saturated world, debunking screen time myths and presenting a balanced approach to integrating media into family life that is both responsive to children's needs and responsible to their developmental limitations.
Dr. Rich shares the story of Nikki and her mom, one of his patients, to illustrate a thoughtful strategy to the common conflict between adolescents' desire for privacy and parents' need to monitor online activities, offering a path toward mutual understanding and trust.
In the arts—like filmmaking—and in life, rules are made to be broken. Expectations, however, affect everyone involved. Dr. Rich offers a set of family expectations that empower kids to develop the responsibility they need while giving parents the freedom to guide and support them effectively.
Our distracted brains once gave us a massive evolutionary advantage—being attuned to the slightest movements in nature helped us avoid becoming prey and catch our own. Fast forward to the 21st century, and that same distractible brain struggles to focus in class when media offers endless stimuli.
Boredom is the foundation of creativity. Dr. Rich emphasizes the importance of off-screen time, boredom, and free play. He also distinguishes between digital connectivity and genuine human connection, offering practical advice on how to cultivate both in a balanced way.
With a pragmatic approach, Dr. Rich clarifies the distinction between addiction and Problematic Interactive Media Use (PIMU), offering a hopeful and actionable path to address and manage these challenges effectively. He provides insights into understanding the nuances of PIMU and practical strategies for intervention.
With a message of calm and hope, Dr. Rich concludes his class by offering parents a concrete, actionable roadmap for guiding their children in the digital age. He empowers parents with practical strategies to foster a balanced relationship between their children and technology.
