Thursday, 08 June 2006 06:37
Nothing like the long freedom of days out of school for the TV to lure your child like the sirens on the rocks. Assuming that your family will not be completely television free, try the following to control the amount and quality of TV your kids watch:
Set a daily or weekly limit. Try allotting your child a particular number of TV-viewing hours per week, and let him choose how he uses them (with your supervision). Unused hours could be cashed in for a small treat.
Place other fun toys near the TV that you can use to ease your kids away from watching.
When you say that it's been enough TV and turn the set off, mean it.
If you find yourself scrambling to get your child off in time to day care, activities, or school, do not allow any TV in the morning.
Watch shows together and talk discuss what you see: the show's message, it's characters, and plot.
If your child is watching a show you don't like, sit down and watch an episode with him so you can discuss why the show is inappropriate.
Ideally, record TV shows and play them without commercials.When that fails, discuss the reasons why there are commercials on TV and what advertising is meant to do. When my six year old son Brooks declares promptly after watching a commercial that, "I've gotta have that cereal," I reply in muted mock horror that I can't believe that he let the advertisers get to him like that. I say, "You know, they are just trying to get you to buy their cereal, and sure enough it worked! Next time, say to yourself, 'They won't trick me again!'" With enough repetition, along with my judicious threats to ban all TV programs with commercials, it has worked as much as could be hoped for. Now I get with a dejected sigh, "Gee that rocket ship looks great. But they're just trying to get me to buy it."
Be clear about what stations your children are allowed to watch and what stations are forbidden.
Reduce the number of TV sets in your home to one or two at the most. Cancel cable channels if you are still vying with for attention.
Do not use the TV as a bribe or reward for good behavior. Alternatively, it shouldn't be taken away as a punishment for bad behavior.
Limit your own TV viewing to times when your child is asleep or away.
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