Managing Your Child’s Television Viewing Time

You have heard the statistics. Kids today spend almost a work week's worth of time in front of the tube. And almost nothing good comes of that time. With early intervention, you can help your child have a brighter, healthier life free (or almost) of television. So start now to manage your child's television viewing time.

5 Ways to Manage the TV

1. Set limits. It will be overwhelming to your child to go cold turkey of television viewing. You will confront the dreaded “my friends get to” argument at first try. Start by setting limits on the amount of time and type of program. Let your child choose the shows he/she wants to watch, within your limits.
2. Suggest alternative shows. Study an online program guide and find some entertaining and educational programs you will allow. Public television is not the only option. History, Discovery and National Geographic channels all have quality programs.
3. Make it fun to not watch television. Plan fun activities with your children. Play games, do crafts, or cook a meal. And eat it at the table, not in front of the television.
4. Set your own limits. Let your children know that you are joining them in the TV diet. They will learn from your example.
5. Talk up the benefits. Don't preach to your kids about everything that is wrong with television. Instead, talk about all the great things they can do with the extra time. Any effort you make to manage your child's television viewing will be more successful if you make it a family effort. Everyone can benefit by spending more time reading, writing and enjoying the family. Don't make this a discipline action. Make it a change in your family's lifestyle.

photo by Danilo Vitoriano