Monitoring Television Viewing Student Created

What does the research say? On average children aged 2-11 watch 23 hours of TV per week. Children spend more time in front of the TV then they do in classrooms. Roughly 90% of the time, children are watching programs that are not age appropriate.

Violence and Use of Time Children learn at a very young age to laugh at violence. About 80% of programs contain some violence and average 5 or more violent acts per hour. Children learn inappropriate behavior and adopt the harmful influences of these programs. Children can learn from these programs stereotypes, racism, violence, profound language, and sexual content.

Working to Fix this Problem The Federal Communications Commissions enforces all laws pertaining to broadcasting and is responsible for approving and renewing licenses for broadcasters. Children’s Television Workshop has been developing and researching the impact of programs on children for the last 20 years. The National Cable Television Association is pursuing an industry wide anti-violence initiative through the development of standards and reducing the amount of violence in cable programming.

The National Association of Elementary School Principals has produced a series of reports to parents offering advice on parenting. The NAESP report on TV violence emphasizes setting a good example, planning schedules for other activities and working with the child to develop sound judgments and other interests. The National PTA works with parents and teachers through its regional and local associations and has been actively involved in exploring media violence and other policy issues in the area of children programming. The National Association for the Education of Young Children is the Nation’s largest association of early childhood professionals; it develops resources such as training books, videos, materials and other sources about child development and education.

How Parents Can Turn Off TV Violence Set an example and don’t leave the TV on all the time. For example, when you’re eating or engaged in other activities. Don’t use TV as a babysitter and keep an alternative interests handy such as coloring books, toys, and jigsaw puzzles. Reject all violent media Schedule daily activities and plan a weekly TV schedule. Direct you children to watch programs that they can learn from for example; Sesame Street and Barney.

Keep an eye on the tube and put the TV in a family central location where it is easily noticeable. Look for good TV programs Join special forces to appose TV violence.

Preschool Children Parents need to take control of the television viewing of Preschoolers and children or early school age. A child’s weekly schedule involves a certain amount of time for school, naps, outdoor, and indoor play. Watching television does not lead children to learn and discover the real qualities of life. Television also leads to laziness and obesity.

What’s a V-Chip? The V-Chip is an electronic chip which works in conjunction with your television, VCR, or a cable box. It reads transmitted rating codes for all programming and will automatically deny access to programming which exceeds your preset rating limitations.

The TVGuardian The TVGuardian automatically edits offensive language out of TV shows. It also edits language on movies by being plugged into your own VCR. This fills a void that the V- Chip leaves out because parents can’t control language even on programs “suitable” for children.

Weemote It shields kids from violent or racy TV shows. The Weemote is a special remote control just for kids that only lets them watch the channels parents deem appropriate (i.e. Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, The Disney Channel, etc.). Kids love having their own easy to use remote and the feeling of control that comes with it. Parents do not have to worry about children surfing inappropriate channels.