As we all know, television today offers a wide range of programming for every kind of person. We also know that children are very influenced by what they see on TV. Although you cannot always be by your child’s side to monitor what they watch on TV, there are ways to help instill good television watching habits.

-Choose a few programs for your child to watch and then allow them to pick which one they want to watch. That way you both have a say in what is being played.
-Limit viewing to one or two hours a day for children over the age of two. Children under the age of two are not recommended to watch any TV at all.
-If you have the time, watch TV with your child to see what the programs are like. Do not just assume that cartoons are safe for children to watch, as many cartoons contain violence.
-Be a good example and do not spend too much time watching TV. Show them that there are other fun activities to do besides that.
-Be assertive and turn the TV off if you feel the program is inappropriate.
-Do not allow the TV to be on during mealtimes.
-Encourage outdoor activities as well as play and exercise. Plan other fun things to do so your child doesn’t resort to TV as their only form of entertainment.
-Do not use television watching as a form of reward. Use other things like play dates with friends or a trip to the park as reinforcement instead.