While TV brings much of value to our lives, as parents we have our reasons to be concerned about the tube's impact on our kids. Whether it's commercials for sugary cereals, misbehaving celebrities, or scary current events, television makes kids aware of a world way beyond our own neighborhoods—or Mr. Rogers'. Of course, it also presents interesting nature shows, educational programming, and many opportunities for discussion. There are ways of handling television viewing to minimize the "negative influences" and optimize what's positive.
Whenever possible, watch TV with your kids. I know this isn't always an option—but when it is, sharing the "viewing experience" provides a way to laugh together and bond. It also allows you to supply context and commentary if there's anything confusing or unsettling.
TV programs can be a great springboard for conversations between you and your kids. Discussions about fictitious onscreen characters can turn into meaningful conversations about actual people and real-life quandaries.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping TV sets out of kids' bedrooms. This is partly because it is difficult to monitor what kids watch and because TV is such a distraction from homework and sleep. Limiting television sets to a shared space makes it easier to watch together. And if you're too busy to sit down with your kids, you can still keep an ear out for the dialogue and make regular forays into the viewing room.
Help Your Kids Become More Media Savvy
There is a lot we parents can do to help our kids become more aware of how the media works. Here are some ways to help kids process what's on the screen.
TV News Explain that TV news often presents faraway events and focuses on what is most unusual. It's easy to forget the effect seemingly benign programs can have on children. Human-interest stories and breaking news can be really frightening to kids, so limit viewing for young children. Encourage older kids to discuss what they see and act on it by writing letters, collecting for charities, and being ecologically responsible.
Commercials Young kids often need help distinguishing between programming and commercials. Discuss the way advertising works (commercials are designed to get people to buy products so that television stations, advertisers, and their clients will make money). Truly savvy viewers can look at how commercials use fear, humor, and other appeals to attract viewers and convey their message.
What's "Real"? Help kids learn that reality shows are not as real as they seem. Explain that they are shot and edited to emphasize drama and conflict and that a viewer's response to who's on or off the runway, island, boat, or boardroom is manipulated by the editing process. Discuss together how reality programs create strong reactions to competition and rejection.
Learn by Doing One technique for helping kids understand TV messages firsthand is to ask how they would create a show or advertise a product. Media literacy programs encourage children to develop their own programs and commercials to explore the process from the inside.
Positive Ways to Talk Back to the Tube
Here are some ways to make good use of TV, prevent your kids from becoming couch potatoes, and possibly even improve what's aired:
Encourage appointment viewing. Help kids select in advance what they're going to see. Use time shifting to watch shows at convenient times. Appointment viewing limits random channel surfing; provides you with input, and creates a structure to viewing time. It is recommended that kids watch no more than an hour of TV on school nights.
Provide alternatives. Even the best TV programming takes time away from other activities. To ensure that TV isn't the default option for bored kids, make certain that your children have lots of alternatives—arts and crafts, outdoor play, reading, music, and imaginative play are just some of the great alternatives to watching the tube. There is no reason for kids under two to be watching the screen. All kids, and especially the youngest, need hands-on experiences: moving, playing, and interacting with people.
Speak up. Explain what you do and don't approve of to those who care for your child. But be reasonable. Try not to put your child in a bind.
Make a difference. Join groups working to improve the quality of what's available. Write to broadcasters and make positive suggestions. And don't forget to support the public stations that provide thoughtful, entertaining, educational, and advertising-free television programs.