American children on average spend far more time watching TV or playing video games
than they do completing homework or other school-related activities. Here are some
suggestions for helping your child to use TV and video games wisely:
*| Limit the time that you let your child watch TV. Too much television cuts into
important activities in a child’s life, such as reading, playing with friends and talking
with family members.
*| Model good TV viewing habits. Remember that children often imitate their parents’
behavior. Children who live in homes in which parents and other family members watch a lot of TV are likely to spend their time in the same way. Children who live in
homes in which parents and other family members have “quiet” time away from the
TV when they read (either alone to each other), talk to each other, play games or
engage in other activities tend to do the same

*| Watch TV with your child when you can. Talk with him about what you see. Answer
his questions. Try to point out the things in TV programs that are like your child’s
everyday life.
*| When you can’t watch TV with your child, spot check to see what she’s watching.
Ask questions after the program ends. See what excites her and what troubles her.
Find out what she has learned and remembered.

*| Go to the library and find books that explore the themes of the TV shows that your
child watches.
*| Limit the amount of time your child spends playing video games. As with TV
programs, be aware of the games he likes to play and discuss his choices with him.