February 20, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The numbers are staggering: kids 8-18 years old now spend an average of 44.5 hours per week using the media – that’s more time than with their parents or in school. Meanwhile, the body of research linking kids’ media use to risky health behaviors like smoking and early sexual activity continues to grow. How are parents to keep their kids healthy in a media-saturated world?

To help parents manage the tricky relationship between modern kids’ media use and their health, Common Sense Media has developed “Keeping Kids Healthy in a 24/7 Media World,” a survival guide for parents. The guide contains simple, easy-to-use information designed to help parents understand how media influences their kids in both healthy and unhealthy ways.

“Thousands of studies have shown that the media can increase kids’ chances of starting risky health behaviors, from smoking and drinking to sexual activity,” said Common Sense Media CEO Jim Steyer. “Our health survival guide gives parents the essential information they need to understand the relationship between the media and kids, and to make sure that kids stay healthy in today’s complex media environment.”

The guide is available for free online at http://www.commonsensemedia.org/parent_tips/healthsurvivalguide. Printed versions of the guide are also available for purchase. Groups interested in the pricing of the printed guides should contact Common Sense’s outreach department at info@commonsensemedia.org.

“Our latest poll confirms that parents are extremely concerned about their kids overusing media, but generally speaking they don’t connect the dots between their kids’ media use and risky health behaviors like smoking or drinking,” Steyer said. “Our health survival guide is an invaluable resource for parents, teachers and caregivers interested in making sure that kids get the best, and avoid the worst, of today’s media.”

About Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is the leading non partisan organization dedicated to improving the media and entertainment lives of kids and families. Common Sense provides trustworthy ratings and reviews of media and entertainment based on child development criteria created by national experts. Today, millions of parents, educators and caregivers use Common Sense. To make age-appropriate decisions for your kids, visit www.commonsensemedia.org.