Dr. Lynn Clark, author of SOS Help for Parents, lists three essential child rearing rules:

1. Reward good behavior (and do it quickly and often).

2. Don’t “accidentally” reward bad behavior.

3. Correct some bad behavior (but use mild correction only).

Parenting is not simple nor easy, but these fundamentals are a good place to start.

The American Academy of Pediatrics makes the following recommendations:

• Discourage electronic media use by children under age 2
• Limit entertainment screen time to less than 1 to 2 hours/day
• Keep TV and internet devices out of children’s bedrooms
• Monitor media use for duration and content
• Co-view media.  This also gives rise to opportunities for discussion.
• Establish and enforce a family media plan.