How Parents Can Guide Children's TV Time

I decided to write this based on feedback regarding National TV Turn-Off Week. The following information came home from our elementary school. It is great wisdom! (words in parantheses are my own thoughts)
Television viewing can have positive effects if parents and teachers:

• Set Limits: know how many hours of tv your children watch. YOU are the parent. YOU should be the one setting the rules and making them stick. 1-2 hours per day is plenty of time. (for my family, the rule is NO TV if it is a school day for children under age 13. For the teen in the house, she can only watch 1 show during the school week. She chooses American Idol!). Suggest and participate in alternative activities such as reading, sports, conversation, games, hobbies. Because children model their behavior after their parents, consider your OWN viewing habits and set a good example. Set up a few basic rules such as no tv during meals or before household chores/homework.
• Plan: encourage your children to plan their viewing by using a TV guide or newspaper listing rather than channel flipping. Help children decide which show to see. Set the rule of "turn the tv off when the program is done". Make sure YOU plan which programs are appropriate based on your child's age and understanding level.
• Participate: know what your children watch on tv. Watch with them (especially if a new program) and talk about the programs during the commercials. We mute the tv during commercials! Explain situations that are confusing. Ask why any violent scenes ocurred and how painful they were. Ask your children for ideas about ways the conflict could have been resolved without violence. (This should be easy for children in grades 2-6 if your school district teaches conflict-resolution skills. LIMIT VIEWING OF VIOLENT SHOWS TO BEGIN WITH. This includes animated violence. (children under the age of 7 have great difficulty, developmentally, distinguishing between fact and fiction and reality vs. fantasy.)
• Monitor: Encourage children to watch programs about characters who cooperate and care for each other. (the Simpsons is SO not appropriate for people under age 18). Such programs that promote care and cooperation can influence children in positive ways by modeling desirable behavior and setting a good example.
• Analyze commercials: Children need your help to critically evaluate the validty of the many products advertised on tv. Teach children (ages 8-18) to analyze commercials and recognize exaggerated claims. Point out that the makers of the products pay for advertising.
• Express your views: Call your local tv station when you are offended or pleased by something on tv. Stations, networks, and sponsors are all concerned about the effects of television viewing on children and are responsive to parents' concerns.
  

(SIMPLY REFUSE TO BUY CABLE! rent movies instead based on your child's interests, ages and mental development. NEVER ALLOW TELEVISION TO BE A BABYSITTER! and NO TELEVISION FOR CHILDREN AGES 2 and under.....more on that another time!)