"Taking responsibility for your children's television viewing is one of the most important things you can do as a parent."
-Peggy Charren, Founder of Action for Children's Television

• Watch television with your children and talk with them about the program.
  Ask Questions: What do you think will happen next? Was that the best way to solve the problem? Do things like that happen in our family? A television program can help start conversations and create opportunities for further learning from you-your child's most important teacher.
• Limit the amount of time your children watch television-
  maximum 2 hours/day.
  The less time your children spend watching television, the more time they will have to spend doing more worthwhile activities such as reading, playing with friends, or taking a walk with you.
• Monitor what your children watch.
  Choose a "balanced television diet" for your children. Get out the TV Guide and "shop" for good programs for your child to watch each day. Consider the main courses to be educational programs and the snacks and desserts to be pure entertainment shows which should be watched in moderation.
• Encourage your children to be active TV viewers.
  Educational programs provide a lot of opportunities for children to sing and dance along with their favorite characters, answer game show questions, and repeat new words. Encourage your child to imitate positive actions and behavior seen on TV.
• Use television as a springboard for reading and other learning activities.
  Being an active viewer also means following up viewing with activities and reading to reinforce the educational messages of the programs. Reading Rainbow and Arthur recommend books at the end of each program and programs like Mister Rogers' Neighborhood are filled with ideas for easy activities for you to do with your child at home.
• Provide real alternatives to television viewing.
  If you can, stop what you are doing and involve your child in another activity. Choose a book together or do a puzzle. Any time spent playing and learning with you is more worthwhile than watching the best educational television program.
• Be able to identify appropriate television programs for your children.
  Ask yourself: Is this program appropriate for my child? Does the program give my child role models for good behavior? Does it present complicated stories that are too difficult for my child to understand? Is there too much violent or sexual content? Does it present my child with stereotypes of people in the world? Television images and events can have a powerful influence on young children. You can make sure it is a positive influence.

Recommended Reading: The Smart Parent's Guide to KIDS" TV, by Milton Chen, Ph. D.
(KQED Books, 1994).