For Mississippi to reach its potential, our children must reach theirs.
“NO SCREENS” FREE FAMILY FUN NIGHT, FOOD & COMMUNITY CONVERSATION with Michael Rich, MD, MPH,The Mediatrician
Join us for a Chat with Dr. Michael Rich, known as “The Mediatrician,” for an engaging and interactive conversation designed especially for families. Drawing from his work at Center on Media and Child Health, Dr. Rich helps parents understand how screens affect children’s growing brains, behavior, and relationships—without guilt.
Instead of focusing on strict rules, he shares simple, practical ways to create more meaningful, screen-free moments in everyday life—like during meals, playtime, and bedtime. Through real-life examples and conversation, families will learn how to strengthen connections, support their child’s social and emotional development, and build healthy media habits that work for their unique family.
This relaxed, interactive chat will leave you feeling encouraged, empowered, and equipped with easy ideas you can start using right away.
5:00- 6:30 - arts and crafts, charades and improv, puzzles, books, other “screen free” engaging activities.
6:30 - 7:00 - Pizza, Chips, and water meal
7:00-8:00 - Interactive Chat with Dr. Michael Rich moderated by Stewart McMillan. Dr. Rich will share practical insights on screen time, social media, and healthy brain development, along with strategies to help families support children in today’s digital world. This informal conversation is perfect for parents, educators, and community members who care about the well-being of children and teens.
New Chat about Children Podcast episode: What Everyone Should Know About the Mississippi LIFT Resource & Referral Network PART ONE
Chat About Children connects you to the people, places, and practical tools that help Mississippi’s children reach their potential.
In this episode, host Bailey Shelton Ray, Director of Communications and Outreach for the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, takes listeners inside the Mississippi LIFT Resource and Referral Network, a statewide system of free community centers supporting families, educators, and anyone involved in early childhood care.
You may now access the 2025 MS KIDS COUNT Factbook digitally! Click the cover or here to download.
Have you Heard about Mississippi LIFT (Learning Investment for Tomorrow)? The Mississippi LIFT project is funded by the Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five (PDG B-5) Renewal. The PDG B-5 Grant is based on the strategic plan developed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) Division of Early Childhood Care and Development and other partners, including the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), the Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center (MECIC), The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, and Mississippi State University Social Science Research Center (SSRC).
Mississippi LIFT invests in families, communities, and child care providers with sound educational resources for our littlest Mississippians. By offering training, employment incentives, and support for early child care teachers, Mississippi LIFT sustains families with free at-home learning and child care services by providing safe, evidence-based educational and lifestyle resources from birth to age five.
Early investment can transform the lives of children living in underserved populations, poverty, rural areas, and with disabilities. Mississippi's future depends on sustained funding of these early childhood education and development programs. Our fate is in the hands of the next generation.
Mississippi KIDS COUNT
