The average American child watches about 3 1/2 hours of TV each day. That means by the time children graduate from high school, they've logged some 18,000 hours in front of a TV set--compared to about 13,000 hours in a classroom.
Now consider what these kids are seeing: 20,000 commercials each year, and about 100,000 acts of TV violence--including 8,000 murders--by the time they reach the sixth grade.
Baby boomer parents, who grew up on TV programs considerably less coarse than today's fare, are starting to make their voices heard in Washington. Last year, Congress required that new TV sets be equipped with the so-called V-chip, a device that permits adults to block objectionable shows or stations. Then the kids' TV lobby turned its attention to a rating system. The goal: All programs would be rated for violence, profanity and sexual content. In a pre-emptive strike, the TV industry "voluntarily" introduced its own plan, similar to movie guidelines, that designates the appropriate age for viewers of a particular show but doesn't rate the programs for violence or sex. That system went into effect January 1 and will be the subject of government hearings later this spring.
As the debate continues, we asked Milton Chen, MA '83, PhD '86, a national expert on kids and television, to offer TV tips for parents. His suggestions:
| Ten TV Tips for Parents | |
| 1 |
Recognize that all TV is "educational" The only question is: What are your children learning? Kids are experts at watching TV. Their young minds can remember scenes and repeat dialogue from all types of shows and commercials. Consider Sarah, a 2-year-old girl who was told by her mother: "It's way past your bedtime." Dancing in front of the TV, the little girl called back, "Mom, it's not bedtime. It's Miller Time!" Or the 4-year-old daughter who passionately kissed her father on the lips. She explained to her astonished Dad: "On TV, that's how you kiss someone when you really love them." So if kids are always learning from TV, it's up to parents to make sure the lessons are appropriate. Too many programs teach violence, sex, vulgar language, stereotyping and commercialism. But there is good news. Studies show that Sesame Street and other educational shows teach young viewers positive lessons, from letters and numbers to the value of self-esteem and racial diversity. |
| 2 |
Watch specific TV shows, don't just watch TV In the average American home with children, the television is on nearly 8 1/2 hours a day. (The total is about six hours a day for homes without kids.) Surveys show that watching TV is the most common activity for kids between the end of the school day and dinner. The challenge is to make viewing a conscious choice and not just a reflex. Help your children get in the habit of watching one program, then turning the TV off and doing something else. Tell your kids they must seek permission before they can turn the set on. Then don't just answer yes or no; ask them what specific program they want to watch, and whether they might instead consider reading or playing outside. |
| 3 |
Talk with your kids about the shows they watch Try to watch some shows with your children. That way you signal that you care about what they see. After the program is over, use it as a springboard for conversation. Ask, "What did you learn from that program?" or, "Why do you like to watch that show?" Connect the programs they watch with books, museum visits, board games and other family activities. As Fred ("Mister") Rogers has said, "TV may be the only electrical appliance that's more useful after it's turned off." |
| 4 |
Put your family on a TV diet American kids are gorging on TV. The first step in introducing a family TV diet is to reduce intake. You don't have to put your kids on a "crash diet," banishing TV from the house. The National PTA, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association recommend that children's viewing be limited to two hours or less a day. It might help to start with a chart of your current diet. Enlist your child in helping make a "TV Diary" for each family member, listing all shows watched for a week. Post it on the bulletin board or refrigerator. Have a family conversation about how much time your household spends with TV, which programs are worthwhile and which might be dropped in favor of other activities. |
| 5 |
Balance the diet with nutritious content You also want to make sure your children get a balanced meal. For the main course, choose shows that have some educational or informational value. You might be surprised to discover your kids like "nutritious TV." Snacks and desserts--shows that are purely for entertainment--are OK, but should be served up in moderation. |
| 6 |
Think of TV as a stranger in your home Would you allow a stranger to entertain your kids by joking about sex, demonstrating gunplay and offering candy bars and salty snacks? Parents would never permit this stranger in the house. So be wary of letting the TV speak to your children in these ways day after day. A 1996 study by Children Now and the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the incidents of "sexual interaction" broadcast during TV's so-called family hour had increased from 2.3 in 1976 to 8.5 in 1996. Meanwhile, research by the American Psychological Association shows that children who frequently watch TV violence tend to be more aggressive in their behavior and, over time, become desensitized to violence in real life. |
| 7 |
Outsmart the advertisers One Sunday morning a few years ago, my 5-year-old daughter asked to go to "IHOP" for breakfast. My wife and I were surprised, since Maggie was usually partial to McDonald's. Intrigued, we asked Maggie what IHOP stands for. "It's the International House of Pancakes," she responded. "You can have the Fruity Country Griddle Cakes for $3.99." Maggie had memorized the pitch, word for word, from a commercial that morning. Guess where we were headed? Our excursion to IHOP will come as no surprise to advertisers. They know that kids wield a lot of influence on the family pocketbook; just consider all the sugared cereals, action figures and fast food in the marketplace. How can you defend your kids from the commercial onslaught? A few ideas:
|
| 8 |
Learn how to use your VCR A decade ago, it was probably the case that 99 percent of the videocassette recorders in the country were blinking 12:00. Today it is much easier to learn how to tape shows in order to play them back at a more convenient time. Pay attention to local TV listings so that you can tape some of the excellent children's specials that air from time to time. Create a video library, and turn to it before you turn on the TV. Visit the children's section of your video rental store; it's cheaper to rent a kid's movie than it is to take the whole family out to the cineplex. |
| 9 |
Be prepared for fast-breaking news stories In recent years, American children have been exposed to the murder of Polly Klaas, the crash of TWA Flight 800 and the Oklahoma City bombing--all through repeated coverage on TV and in other media. We can't shield our kids from these kinds of stories; even if they don't learn of these tragedies at home, they will hear radio reports in a friend's car, see newspaper headlines or overhear casual conversation. Parents should use these occasions as an opportunity to comfort their children and discuss fears and anxieties. Reassure your children that "bad things do happen, but we're safe, and I'll always protect you." And as Fred Rogers recommends to parents, when a disaster occurs, "Show them all the people who are helping." |
| 10 |
Don't just talk the talk Beware! Getting TV under control in your household may mean changing your own TV habits. Dads who watch four football games each weekend may need to get by on one or two. Moms who like their movies and sitcoms for hours each day might also cut back. Rules that focus only on children and exempt the adults in the house may encourage rebellion and conflict. Besides, wouldn't it be nice if you read a book or spent more time outside? |
Milton Chen is the director of the KQED Center for Education & Lifelong Learning at PBS station KQED-San Francisco. He is a member of the Stanford Alumni Association board of directors.
