Some good insights from the Kaiser Foundation to help you and your family avoid media overload:

1. Start good habits early. Establish boundaries. Start when your kids are young by restricting access to media: Turn the phone off during homework. IM, too. And keep an eye on the clock. The secret to healthy media use is to establish time limits and stick to them.

2. Use media together. For older kids, talk about what you see, hear, and read. Whenever you can, watch, play, listen, and surf with your kids. Talk about the content, and stay engaged with what your kids are doing online -- and on the go. Share your values, and help kids connect what they learn in the media to events and other activities in which they're involved, in order to broaden their understanding of the world.

3. Keep distractions to a minimum. Try to help kids do one thing at a time. For older kids, make sure that social networking and chatting happen after homework is over -- or at timed intervals.

4. Be a role model. When kids are around, set an example by using media the way you want them to use it. Keep mobile devices away from the dinner table, turn the TV off when it's not actively being watched, and use a DVR to record shows that may be inappropriate for your kids (even the news) and watch them at a later time when kids aren't around.

5. Seek balance. If our kids are going to thrive with digital media, balance is key. They'll be exposed to the good, bad, and ugly. Help kids develop responsible media habits and good digital citizenship so they can pursue their interests with media savvy.

What do you think? What tips are you using to keep your kids from experiencing media overload?