THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHTED IMPACT.

SOCIAL MEDIA ON KIDS AND TEENS AND HOW PARENTS CAN KEEP THEIR FAMILIES SAFE.

FIRST TONIGHT AS MPT'S CHESAPEAKE BAY WRAPS UP WE LOOK AT NEW WORRIES ABOUT THE OSPREY POPULATION.

JOINING US IS Dr.

KENA KUWERA PRESIDENT OF OPEN OPEN.

Dr.

GREEN WE LET'S START FOR PEOPLE WHO NEVER PAID ATTENTION TO THESE BIRDS.

WHY DO WE LOVE THE OSPREYS SO MUCH?

>> JEFF, THANKS FOR HAVING ME IT'S GREAT TO BE PART OF THIS PROCESS AND I'M DELIGHTED YOU ARE FOCUSING ON OSPREYS.

MOST PEOPLE ON THE WATER KNOW THE OSPREY AND I REFER TO THEM AS OUR AMBASSADORS OF JOY.

EVERYONE ANTICIPATES ST.

PATRICK'S DAY MIDDLE OF MARCH BECAUSE IT'S WHEN THE OSPREYS RETURN.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR THAT THEY COME BACK FROM SOUTH AMERICA WHERE THEY SPENT THEIR WINTER.

AND WE HAVE OUR MALES RETURN FIRST.

AND MAKING SURE THAT IT MEETS THE STANDARDS SO WHEN THEIR WIFE RETURNS WITHIN A WEEK SHE IS HAPPY AND READY TO SETTLE IN AND THEN THEY ARE READY TO START A NEW FAMILY UNIT AGAIN FOR THIS BREEDING SEASON.

WE ARE NOW IN THE PREDDING SEASON WHICH STARTED IN MARCH, APRIL AND OUR SURVEYS WHICH WE DO FROM APRIL-AUGUST WE HAVE FOUND EGGS IN OUR NESTS AND IT MAKES US HAPPY.

>> Jeff: LET'S PICK UP ON THINGS.

ONE IS THE WORD WIFE.

I'VE READ THAT THEY MATE FOR LIFE DO THEY REALLY?

AND TELL US ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE MIGRATION.

A LOT OF BIRDS GO SOUTH THESE BIRDS GO REALLY SOUTH?

>> YES, JEFF THAT IS AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE WHO LOVE THE OSPREYS AND THEY WATCH THEM THROUGHOUT THE NESTING SEASON.

YEARS AGO, 10, 15 YEARS AGO, SOME RESEARCHERS PUT GPS TRACKERS ON SOME OSPREYS HERE IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND WERE ABLE TO FIND THEM MIGRATE TO SOUTH AMERICA AND GO AS FAR AS THE AMAZON, NORTHERN ARGENTINA, CHILE AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRIES IN THAT REGION.

ONE OF THE FEMALES FLEW TO NORTHERN COLUMBIA AND DIRECTED HERSELF EAST TO NORTHEAST BRAZIL.

HERE WE HAVE GEESE IN THE BACKGROUND.

SHE WENT AND TRAVELED 5500 MILES.

NORMALLY THE BIRDS TRAVEL BETWEEN 2500 AND 3,000 MILES INTO SOUTH AMERICA.

WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS AFTER THEY SPEND THE WINTER BY THEMSELVES IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, THE HUSBAND AND WIFE RETURN TO THE SAME NEST THAT THEY WERE IN THE YEAR BEFORE.

VERY STRONG FIDELITY TO THEIR NESTS AND MATES.

SO THEY COME BACK, THE MALE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THE HOME IS IN ORDER AND THE FEMALE RETURNS AND SHE INSPECTS AND SAYS ALL RIGHT, I'M READY AND THEN THEY MATE.

>> Jeff: WHAT ABOUT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BRINGS THEM BACK?

WHAT ABOUT THIS WATERSHED MAKES IT SUCH AN IMPORTANT HOME FOR THIS POPULATION?

>> WELL, THE POPULATION OF OSPREYS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY REPRESENTS ABOUT 25% OF THE GLOBAL WORLD'S POPULATION OF OSPREY.

OSPREYS ARE FOUND IN EVERY CONTINENT EXCEPT ANTARCTICA, YET THE CHESAPEAKE BAY IS CONSIDERED THE GARDEN OF OSPREYS IN THE WORLD.

WE HAVE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10 AND TWELVE,000 BREEDING PAIRS WHICH MIGHT CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

BUT OVERALL WE ARE TALKING ABOUT JUVENILES AND RETURNING BIRDS SOMEWHERE IN THE ORDER OF 150,000 BIRDS MAYBE UP TO 200,000 BIRDS THROUGHOUT THE BAY.

THE DISTRIBUTION -- >> Jeff: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE STATUS?

HOW ARE THEY DOING AS A POPULATION?

I'VE READ VARYING THING AND EVERYONE RECALLS THE 70s WHEN THEY WERE DECIMATED BY DDT AND THEY CAME BACK FROM THAT?

>> INDEED.

THE LONG-TERM WHAT I REFER TO AS [INAUDIBLE] WHO WORKED AND STUDIED OSPREYS FOR GOING ON 50 YEARS HAVE DOCUMENTED THE POPULATION GROWTH, THE EXPANSION FROM THOSE DAYS OF THE DDT DISSEMINATION WHICH IS BACK IN THE LATE 60s, 70s.

THE OSPREY HAS ESTABLISHED AND REGAINED PRESENCE TO LARGE NUMBERS.

IT IS NOT JUST OF COURSE IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY IT'S THROUGHOUT THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD EVEN INTO THE MIDWEST AND UP INTO CANADA.

THERE IS A LARGE DISTRIBUTION RANGE OF OUR OSPREYS DURING NESTING SEASON AND WE HAVE TWO SIGNIFICANT POPULATIONS THAT TRAVEL TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

WE HAVE THE WESTERN POPULATION WHICH GOES SOUTH THROUGH BAJA, CALIFORNIA AND OURS IN THE EASTERN SEABOARD AND MIDWEST AND THEY GO ACROSS THE CARRIBBEAN TO SOUTH AMERICA.

>> Jeff: KEN I HAVE A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER IN CHESTER TOWN WHO SAYS THE OSPREY PAIR AT THE DOCK NEAR MY HOUSE HAVE RETURNED BUT THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE BUILT A NEST.

THE PLATFORM LOOKS EMPTY THEY FLY AROUND.

WHAT IS HAPPENING?

DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE?

>> YES, IT DOES.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, WE REALLY FEEL THAT THE OSPREYS ARE A MYSTERY TO US AFTER DECADES OF STUDY.

WHY CERTAIN BIRDS DON'T SEEM TO REESTABLISH AT THEIR NEST SITE.

IN FACT, I HAVE ABOVE ME HERE THERE IS A PINE TREE RIGHT ON THE END OF MY PROPERTY WHICH HAS HAD A PAIR NESTING FOR SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AND THIS YEAR, HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED.

THEY DIDN'T REBUILD THE NEST.

AND I'M NOT SURE IF THERE WAS MORTALITY WHICH ELIMINATED FRED OR MATILDA THIS WIFE SO WE DON'T KNOW.

NONETHELESS ALWAYS YOU FIND SOME OF THE NEST BOXES DO NOT SUPPORT OSPREY PAIRS WE STILL HAVE ACTIVE NESTS AROUND AT LEAST OUR WATERSHED THAT WE GO OUT BY BOAT AND SURVEY ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

>> Jeff: SO WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S CONCERNS THAT REPRODUCTION RATES MAYBE DOWN FEWER EGGS, FEWER HATCHLINGS, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND TELL US ABOUT THE STUDY YOU ARE INVOLVED IN?

>> GOOD POINTS, JEFF.

WE REPRESENT HERE IN THE RIVER OPERATION OSPREY, ONE OF 22 OTHER STUDY SITES AROUND THE BAY.

THIS IS BEING SPONSORED BY A NUMBER OF RESEARCHERS AND SCIENTISTS COORDINATED OUT OF WILLIAM AND MARY BY A RENOWNED OSPREYOLOGIST, BRIAN WATTS.

IN THE PROTOCOLS WE GO BY BOAT TO EAST OF THE NEST BOXES, AND WE HAVE A MIRROR POLE THAT WE RAISE AND LOOK DOWN ON THE NEST AND ABLE TO COUNT EGGS.

AND NESTLINGS, JUVENILES AND FLEDGE LINGS.

THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS A CROSS STUDY OF OUR SITES INCLUDING OUR WE FOUND AN ALARMING LOW REPRODUCTION RATE.

MEANING HERE IN THE RIVER LAST YEAR WE ONLY HAD 18 SUCCESSFUL FLEDGE LINGS ACROSS 70 ACTIVE NESTS.

AND THAT'S IN SPITE OF HAVING LARGE NESTS WITH EGG LANE OVER THE COURSE OF APRIL AND MAY AND THEN WE ARE FINDING THOSE EGGS DID NOT SUCCESSFULLY RESULT IN HEALTHY, SURVIVED FLEDGE LINGS.

>> Jeff: I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO THE FOLKS AT THE CHESAPEAKE CONSERVANCY WE'VE SEEN VIEWS OF THEIR WEBCAM THIS IS FROM KENT ISLAND LIVE LOOK AT THE NEST THERE'S ONE EGG UNDER THAT BIRD AND IN YEARS PAST THEY HAVE HAD GOOD SEASONS AND BAD SEASONS.

AND KEN I HAVE A MINUTE, TELL ME ABOUT THE FISH THAT THE OSPREY PARTICULARLY LIKE AND THE CONCERN ABOUT THAT?

>> VERY BRIEFLY, JEFF, THIS IS A VERY COMPLEX SITUATION.

IT'S CONNECTED TO VIRGINIA WATERS WHERE THERE IS AN OPERATION COMMERCIAL BIG TRAWLERS HARVESTING THE MEN HAYDEN CALLED OMEGA PROTEIN AND THERE'S CONCERN THEY MIGHT HAVE OVERHARVESTING THE SUPPLY WHICH IS WHAT THE OSPREYS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE BAY DEPENDS ON.

WE THINK UP HERE IN MID-TO UPPER BAY AND THE UPPER REACHES OF OUR TRIBUTARIES WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME DEPENDENCE ON AND WE HAVE OTHER FISH SPECIES THAT OUR BIRDS SEEM TO FEED ON.

AND APPARENTLY ARE SURVIVING.

HOWEVER WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA AND SOMETHING THAT WE OPERATION OSPREY AND OTHERS ARE TRYING TO DO MORE RESEARCH ON.

>> Jeff: Dr.

KENA KUWERA WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

Dr.

KEN GREEN, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU AND WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

[*] >> Jeff: TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEALTH WITH Dr.

SARAH EDWARDS CHILD PSYCHIATRIST AND Dr.

MUTIAT ONIGBANJO AT PEDIATRICIAN WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THERE'S GROWING CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE, PARTICULARLY HEAVY SOCIAL MEDIA USE ON CHILDREN AND TEENS.

Dr.

EDWARDS, WHAT YOU SEEING IN YOUR PRACTICE?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

AND, YES, WE ARE SEEING LOTS OF INCREASES IN MOOD AND ANXIETY ISSUES AND SOMETIMES IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL MEDIA USE.

I THINK AN IMPORTANT PART TO POINT OUT IS THAT CHILDHOOD TODAY IS VASTLY DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS GENERATIONS.

THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT KIDS ARE SPENDING ON SCREENS, IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED.

AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT MOST TEENAGERS BEING ON SOME SORT OF SCREEN, SEVEN TO 10 HOURS EACH DAY, AND THAT IS NOT EVEN INCLUDING THE SCHOOL WORK THEY ARE DOING DURING THE SCHOOL TIME TO HIGHLIGHT HOW DIFFERENT CHILDHOOD IS COMPARED TO WHAT I GREW UP IN AND PREVIOUS GENERATIONS.

BUT WE ARE -- I'M SORRY.

>> Jeff: I WAS GOING TO SAY IT SOUNDS SAD.

IT'S SPRINGTIME AND YOU SHOULD BE OUTDOORS DOING STUFF, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS SOCIAL MEDIA IS TAKING AWAY THE TIME THAT KIDS CAN SPEND OUTDOORS BEING PHYSICALLY ACTIVE, ENJOYING THEIR FRIENDS.

SOCIAL MEDIA MAYBE A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT BUT SOMETIMES YOU ARE MISSING THE OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITHOUT MEDIA.

>> Jeff: QUESTION FOR EITHER OF YOU.

WHAT SORT OF BEHAVIORS INDICATE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM?

>> A COMMON BEHAVIOR CHANGE THAT WE MAY SEE IS KIDS MAYBE MORE AT RISK OF HAVING INATTENTION, DIFFICULTY FOCUSING, AND MAY AFFECT THEIR SLEEP.

>> Jeff: AND Dr.

EDWARDS WHEN IT GETS TO YOU IT'S PROBABLY FARTHER ALONG?

>> CORRECT.

SO WHEN I START TO SEE KIDS IT'S USUALLY WHEN THERE'S MOOD AND ANXIETY ISSUES.

SO KIDS ARE EXTREMELY IRRITABLE, ISOLATING AND THEN YOU START TO SEE AN IMPACT.

AN IMPACT IN THEIR SCHOOL WORK MAYBE AN IMPACT IN THEIR FRIENDSHIPS THEIR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS.

SO NOT ONLY ARE SOME OF THESE THINGS CHANGING BUT IT'S IMPACTING THEIR FUNCTIONING AND THAT IS WHEN WE START TO HAVE CONCERNS.

>> Jeff: IS IT A SITUATION WHERE PEDIATRICIANS IN REGULAR PRACTICE EN REQUIRE AT A NORMAL CHECKUP ABOUT STUFF LIKE THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

EVERY WELL CHILD CHECK WE CHECK AND SEE HOW KIDS ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA OR POTENTIALLY SCREEN USE.

I THINK REALLY OUR FOCUS MOVED AWAY FROM HOW MANY HOURS ARE YOU SPENDING ON IT AND FOCUSING ON HOW YOU ARE CONNECTING AND WHERE IT'S PROBLEMATIC.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT SOCIAL MEDIA TIME OR THAT TIME WITH SCREENS AND HOW ARE YOU CONNECTING WITH OTHERS.

>> Jeff: AND WHAT ANSWERS TO THAT QUESTION WOULD BE CONCERNING?

>> SO COMMON CONCERNS WOULD BE YOU'RE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE VIA SOCIAL MEDIA BUT NOT HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH THEM IN-PERSON.

OTHER THINGS IS HOW YOU ARE RELATING TO OTHERS.

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING BULLYING ON THE SCREEN TIME YOU ARE SPENDING TIME ON?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

ARE YOU SPENDING MORE ENERGY FOCUSED ON YOUR APPEARANCE VERSUS LIKE LEARNING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MAYBE INTERESTING TO YOU.

>> Jeff: LET'S FOCUS ON THE BULLYING THING FOR A MOMENT.

I IMAGINE 2 AN ADULT YOU BRUSH IT OFF, I THINK.

BUT TO A CHILD, ESPECIALLY YOU THINK ABOUT LIKE A MIDDLE SCHOOLER, SOMEBODY AT AN UNCERTAIN PART OF YOUR FORMATIVE YEARS IT COULD BE REALLY DEVASTATING?

>> DEFINITELY.

WE'RE SEEING WHEN KIDS DURING THIS DEVELOPMENTAL TIME VALUE WHAT THEIR PEERS THINK ABOUT THEM.

THAT IS WHEN THEY WANT TO BE THEIR WHOLE IDENTITY ARE THEY LIKED, ARE THEY IN WITH THE APPROPRIATE CROWD.

WHEN ON-LINE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO SHUT THAT OFF AND IF THEY DON'T GET THE LIKES OR THE COMMENTS THEY WERE HOPING TO GET OR AS YOU WERE MENTIONING IF YOU ARE BEING BULLIED ON-LINE IT'S HARD TO SHUT THAT DOWN.

PREVIOUS GENERATIONS, I 0 COULD MAYBE EXPERIENCE BULLYING IN CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY WHEN YOU WERE AT SCHOOL.

BUT THEN AT HOME YOU HAD A YOU WERE ABLE TO SEPARATE.

WITH THE ON-LINE CONNECTIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA IF THAT IS HAPPENING IT'S HAPPENING 24/7 THERE IS NO TIME TO SHUT THAT OFF THAT MAKES IT HARDER AS WELL.

>> Jeff: AND THE LAST THING IN THE WORLD YOU ARE GOING TO DO IF YOU ARE A MIDDLE SCHOOLER AND BEING BULLIED ON-LINE IS AT THE TIME YOUR PARENTS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Jeff: HOW DO WE GET THEM HELP?

>> I THINK THE FIRST QUESTION IS TO ASK THE QUESTION.

AND REALLY GET A SENSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HOW MUCH TIME WHAT EXACTLY IS YOUR CHILD DOING WHEN THEY ARE USING THEIR SCREENS.

THE FIRST STEP IS ASKING THE QUESTION.

>> Jeff: AND Dr.

EDWARDS IF YOU WANT TO JUMP IN ON THAT I IMAGINE THAT YOU WOULD BOTH BE SUPPORTIVE WHAT WE SEE SCHOOL SYSTEMS DOING NOW IN LIMITING OR TOTALLY ELIMINATING THE USE OF DEVICES IN SCHOOL?

>> I THINK THIS YEAR WE HAVE A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO DID PUT MORE PARAMETERS AND BARRIERS TO SEPARATE THE SCHOOL TIME.

WE KNOW THAT CELLPHONES FOR ANY OF US ADULTS INCLUDED CAN BE A DISTRACTTER.

HAVING THEM IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE MERE PRESENCE OF HAVING A CELLPHONE IN A ROOM WHEN YOU ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION, STUDIES SHOW THAT OUR MINDS ARE THINKING WHAT IS ON THE PHONE?

DID SOMEBODY CONTACT ME?

YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON THE SCHOOL WORK.

IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A WELCOME CHANGE.

I KNOW AMONGST TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS AND A LOT OF PARENTS APPRECIATE KIDS HAVING THAT TRUE DOWNTIME DURING THE EIGHT-HOUR SCHOOL DAY.

>> Jeff: AND IN TERMS OF HOME LIFE, I MEAN WE ADULTS CAN MODEL THAT BEHAVIOR A LITTLE BIT BY MAYBE PUTTING THE PHONE DOWN AT DINNERTIME OR BEDTIME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK REALLY SETTING THE BOUNDARIES AROUND SCREENS.

HAVING MEALTIMES WITHOUT SCREENS, BEDTIMES WITHOUT SCREENS IS A GREAT WAY TO CREATE A ROUTINE THAT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A PENALTY BUT A PART OF YOUR STANDARD FAMILY.

>> Jeff: DOCTOR, THE PARENTING QUESTION HERE.

YOU WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR KIDS.

YOU WANT YOUR KIDS TO KNOW YOU GOT THEIR BACK YOU'RE TOTALLY ON THEIR SIDE.

THAT YOU TRUST THEM AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU ALSO WANT TO BE LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER A LITTLE BIT.

HOW DO YOU THREAD THAT NEEDLE?

>> IT IS A CHALLENGING NEEDLE TO THREAD.

I THINK THE BIG COMPONENT IS COMMUNICATION.

SO REALLY TALKING WITH YOUR CHILD OBVIOUSLY IN A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE WAY AS TO WHY SOCIAL MEDIA MAYBE A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE FUN BUT WHAT ARE ALSO THE COMPONENTS THAT WE WANT TO GUARD AGAINST.

SO A SCHOOL-AGED CHILD MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THAT COMPONENT BUT AS A CHILD TRANSITIONS TO ADOLESCENCE IT'S IMPORTANT TO COMMUNICATE THE WHY AND IN A MEANINGFUL WAY WITH YOUR CHILD.

THAT HAS LASTING IMPACT VERSUS IT BEING VERY MUCH SOMETHING THAT IS PUNITIVE THAT IS TAKEN AWAY FOR REASONS AROUND SAFETY IS DISCUSSING WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS CONSIDERED SAFE AND NOT.

I TELL MY PARENTS IT'S IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW YOUR CHILD ON SOCIAL MEDIA LEARN WHAT THEY ARE DOING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND USING THE TIME TO CONNECT AND COMMUNICATE WITH THEM.

>> Jeff: AND AS A PARENT, HOW SURE CAN YOU BE THAT IT'S THEIR ACTUAL ACCOUNT THAT YOU ARE FOLLOWING?

AND IS THERE AN AGE WHERE THEY ARE JUST GOING TO STOP DOING THAT?

>> THERE IS A GREAT QUESTIONS.

THERE ARE SAFETY FEATURES AND WE KNOW THAT KIDS CAN OPEN UP DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS AND SEVERAL ACCOUNTS.

I THINK TO PIGGY BACK WHAT THE DOCTOR WAS SAYING IT'S IMPORTANT YOU HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS EARLY ON SO YOU ARE DEVELOPING TRUST WITH YOUR CHILD.

AND THAT WHEN YOU START BEFORE THEY OPEN UP THEIR FIRST ACCOUNT THAT YOU SET THE GROUND WORK AND YOU ARE ABLE TO CHECK IN.

AND I THINK HAVING THAT OPEN DIALOGUE ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE LESS SECRECY AND THERE'S MORE ROOM FOR EACH OTHER TO REALLY START TO BUILD THAT TRUST.

AND TO YOU SET BOUNDARIES ABOUT I'M GOING TO FOLLOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND AS THE KID IS ABLE TO MATURE AND TAKE ON MORE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT MIGHT LOOK DIFFERENTLY BUT YOU ARE GOING TO KEEP THAT COMMUNICATION ABOUT THAT.

>> Jeff: LET'S ZERO INTO WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR PRACTICE A LITTLE BIT WHEN A YOUNG PERSON HAS ENOUGH DIFFICULTY WITH THIS THAT IT MAYBE AFFECTING SLEEP, IT MAYBE CAUSING ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION THEY ARE REFERRED TO YOU.

WHERE DO YOU START?

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU PROVIDE?

>> WELL, HAVING UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS GOING ON.

SO REALLY GETTING THAT GOOD HISTORY AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THE CHILD AND TO THE FAMILY.

AND GETTING A SENSE OF WHAT ELSE?

IT COULD BE SOCIAL MEDIA AND THAT MIGHT BE MAKING THINGS WORSE BUT LIKELY THERE'S OTHER THINGS HAPPENING.

AND SO REALLY ESTABLISHING THAT RAPPORT WITH A CHILD AND GETTING A SENSE OF SYMPTOMS IS IMPORTANT.

AND IF IT IS REGARDING SOCIAL MEDIA USE, WORKING TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY, I MEAN NOBODY DOES WELL WITH IT BEING TAKEN AWAY IN A PUNISHMENT MODE SO HOW CAN YOU WORK WITH THE CHILD AND THE FAMILY TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT EVERYBODY AGREES TO TO INCREASE SAFETY AND TO DECREASE ANY ISSUES THAT MIGHT BE HAPPENING WITH OVERUSE, PROBLEMATIC INTERNET OR PHONE USE.

>> Jeff: DOCTOR, WOULD YOU SAY THERE IS A CONSENSUS IN THE FIELD OF PEDIATRICS ABOUT WHAT ADVICE TO PROVIDE TO PARENTS?

OR IS THIS TOO NEW AND TOO INDIVIDUAL?

>> I THINK THERE IS A COMMON CONSENSUS THAT SCREENING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA USE OR SCREENS IN GENERAL IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS DOES SUPPORT WE SHOULD DO OUR BEST THE FIRST TIME FAMILIES ARE HEARING ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA USE IS OFTEN IN THEIR DOCTOR'S VISITS.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE PART OF THAT ARM TO HELP ASSESS AND DETERMINE WHAT BEST PRACTICE WOULD LOOK LIKE.

I DO FEEL LIKE THERE IS A CONSENSUS.

BUT THERE IS ROOM TO NAVIGATE AND CHANGE AND MODIFY A SCREEN USE PLAN THAT WORKS FOR A FAMILY.

SO I THINK THAT IS WHERE THERE'S FLEXIBILITY.

BUT OVERALL I THINK THERE IS A CONSENSUS IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MODE RATE AND USE SCREENS WHERE APPROPRIATE BUT BEING MINDFUL OF THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ITS USE.

>> Jeff: I'VE HEARD HAVING A CONTRACTED WITH THE KIDS.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

IT.

DOES ESPECIALLY IN THE BEGINNING.

RIGHT?

IF YOU CAN START THAT PHONE FAMILY PLAN A MEDIA PLAN START IT EARLY ON BEFORE THEY HAVE ACCESS.

AND THAT'S WHEN YOU CAN MODIFY AS KIDS AGE AND GAIN ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL MEDIA USE.

BUT IT IS GREAT THAT IF PARENTS CAN START EARLY AND HAVE A FAMILY MEDIA PLAN, THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS AS WELL AS THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENTS PSYCHIATRY.

>> Jeff: BEFORE WE GO, Dr.

EDWARDS WHAT IS THE TAKEAWAY HERE FOR A PARENT GUARDIAN OF A YOUNG CHILD, WHAT SHOULD THEY BE THINKING ABOUT THESE TOPICS?

>> I THINK THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES.

WE KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF MEDIA USE, A LOT OF SCREEN TIME AND IT'S NOT ALL BAD AND IT'S NOT ALL GOOD.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY EDUCATE OURSELVES AND REALLY ASK THE KIDS THEY KNOW BEST AS FAR AS WHAT'S HAPPENING AND HOW THEY ARE USING IT.

TO HAVE THAT OPEN DIALOGUE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> Jeff: DOCTOR?

>> I AGREE.

I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING IS RECOGNIZING THAT IT STARTS REALLY EARLY AND YOUR APPROACH WILL CHILD AS YOUR CHILD ALSO GETS OLDER AND ALSO IDENTIFYING OUR LIMITATIONS AS PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN A GENERATION THAT DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH ACCESS WE MAY NOT KNOW ALL THE DETAILS AS YOU ARE TEACHING YOUR CHILD YOU ARE ALSO LEARNING WITH THEM AND ADAPTING AND CHANGING WITH TIME.

>> Jeff: DOCTORS WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND ADVICE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[*]