How to Guide Kids' TV Time
Worried about how much television your kids watch? These days many parents are. Unfortunately, simply telling children that too much television isn't good for them is usually not enough to get the message across.
If you want to cut back on the amount of television your family watches, the first step is to recognize the wealth of alternatives to television and make them seem attractive to your kids, say education researchers at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory. Parents must be ready with ideas for other things to do—sports, reading, games, hobbies, conversation—and have the materials for these other activities handy so that they can become part of your family's routine.
Even with full schedules and hobbies, television is probably going to remain a part of life in your household. But the following tips can help you guide your children's viewing:
- Limit television viewing. Encourage your children to budget their viewing time by helping them select shows from weekly TV listings, and avoid "channel surfing" by turning on the television to watch a specific program and turning it off when that program is over. Set guidelines for the entire family, such as no TV during meals or until after homework is finished.
- Watch together. This isn't always appropriate, but watch programs together whenever possible. During and after a program, ask questions, explain, and discuss what you saw. If a violent scene occurs in a program your family is watching, talk to your kids about it and ask how the conflict could be resolved without violence.
- Say "No" to programs and movies with inappropriate language, explicit sexual content, or excessive violence. This may seem like a tall order, but many programs are appropriate and entertaining for children. Family shows can be found on public broadcasting stations and commercial and cable stations. Encourage your kids to watch programs with characters that are good role models and that handle conflicts well.
- Encourage related activities and reading. If your kids loved a program about deep sea diving or the Civil War, find books on that subject at the library, take them to a related exhibit at a museum or gallery, or rent a movie on the subject. These types of activities help your children extend their knowledge.
- Set a positive example. Children model their parent's behavior. If they see you spending hours in front of the television, they are more likely to do the same. If they see you reading, writing, or playing games, they will get the message that these activities are important too.
This column by Samantha Moores is provided as a public service by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, a nonprofit institution working with schools and communities in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
