From movies and television to video games and the Internet, kids today have ready access to an exciting new world of entertainment and information. For their parents however, the almost limitless possibilities available are a mixed blessing. In this strategic resource for parents and educators, Dr. David Walsh, founder and president of the non-profit National Institute on Media and the Family, looks at the powerful, often insidious, influence of media from a psychological standpoint and encourages parents to pay attention to the messages kids are exposed to and make informed choices about how their children spend their time. Dr. Dave's Cyberhood is not anti-media. Rather, in clear, straightforward language, it examines such concerns as how much time a child should spend in front of a screen; how to evaluate the content of various media; how to teach children to use media intelligently and responsibly without direct parental supervision; and how to counteract peer pressure. Helpful recommendations for media products that will engage a child's imagination and stimulate his or her intellectual development, as well as suggestion for media-free activities for kids to do alone, with friends, and with their families, are also included.