Parents

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One of parents' greatest concerns has been how to keep TV from having harmful effects on their children. Today, children's use of computers, the Internet, and video games are added to the list of parents' concerns.

Overall, there's no substitute for your direct involvement, observation, and supervision in determining what children are watching on the "small screen." Here are some specific hints:

TV: Keep it Under Control

• Establish limits on TV time and programming. Plan with children what shows they can watch - whether or not you are home.
• Use the TV Parental Guidelines for selecting programming.
• Talk about how violence can be harmful. Be sure children understand that real people get hurt when injured.
• Watch for tiredness, listlessness, glassy eyes, or a trance-like state in your child - all signs of poor health or too much TV.
• Avoid eating meals in front of the TV. Meal times may be the best opportunities for you to talk with children - don't let TV intrude on this family time.

Is TV Harmful to Children?

Read the facts and decide for yourselves:

• The average child sees 11,000 TV murders by age 14.
• Violent behavior on TV may cause aggression in children.
• Children imitate what they see and hear. Some have been injured, or injured others, when trying to imitate TV characters.
• Children eat too much junk food, often while watching TV, and don't get enough exercise.

Computers: The Other Small Screen

Read the facts and decide for yourselves:

Working or playing games on a computer can be a great way to enhance your child's learning, but the computer can also be one more substitute for physical activity - and one more avenue to inappropriate material.

As with TV, establish rules on computer use- be sure home-work comes first and encourage your child to pursue other interests such as sports, music, and activities with friends.

If you have access to the internet, set limitations on what your child can see and do.

Video Games

Some computer or video games contain violent content or adult humor which may not be appropriate for young children. Preview the games before allowing your child to play them. While games may not be rated like TV programs, you can use the descriptions in the TV Parental Guidelines above to help determine if a game is appropriate for your children. For example, a game may contain "fantasy" or comedic violence, which is not recommended for children below the age of 7.

Internet: Keeping Kids Safe in Cyberspace

People behave in cyberspace differently from how they would in real life. It is common for them, especially children, to talk to strangers and share personal information with them. Realize that with very little information given out online, a sophisticated stalker can track an individual in real life which could result in a child abduction. Here are some tips on how you can keep your kids safe on internet:

• Talk about potential dangers and your concerns.
• Ask them what they do on the Internet and monitor how much time they spend.
• Never use your real name in an email address. Make the name up.
• Never disclose any personal or family information to any one in "chat" especially to some one you do not know.
• Instruct your kids to never arrange to meet in person with someone you've met on-line unless they have discussed it with you.
• Keep the computer where you can see it in a busy part of the house
• Check history files for suitability of sites and chat rooms.

Healthy Alternatives

TV and computers can take time away from other activities that are very important to a child's development- homework, physical recreation, creative expression, and learning individual skills.

Here are a few alternatives to the "small screen":

• Read to or with your children. Encourage them to read for the same amount of time they watch TV.
• Set a rule that homework must be done before the TV goes on.
• Plan fun activities that provide physical and mental outlets for your children.
• Avoid using TV and videos as a babysitter. Help your children learn to entertain themselves.

Adapted from New Jersey Education Association website