by Anne O'Rourke

Created on: August 16, 2009

The average American watches five hours of television a day according to a 2009 report by the Nielsen Company. Two hours of quality programming is the maximum recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The television is so entrenched in most American households that it would be difficult to expect to raise children without any exposure to television. There are good reasons for parents to let their children watch some television. Dangers arise when a child's television viewing becomes excessive or when parents fail to monitor television viewing properly.

Your children probably attend schools with peers who watch a lot of television. Even if much of that programming cannot honestly be called educational, there is some value in preventing your child from feeling different. Your child is probably better off spending limited amounts of time watching superficial programs than feeling like a social outcast when his classmates are discussing the hit show of the season. Forbidding all television can also backfire by making it so tempting that your child will try to watch more and consume dangerous substances such as reruns of "AfterMASH."

Some television is actually inherently good. PBS offers quality programs such as "Sesame Street" for younger children and "Bill Nye the Science Guy" for older children. With DVDs, you can have quality programming on hand anytime and pick movies and documentaries that match and expand your child's interests.

In spite of your best efforts, your children may sometimes watch a program that you find offensive. Even these experiences can be put to good use by using them to initiate discussions on values and virtues. You can examine the destructive effects of glamorizing violence or provide age-appropriate information on human sexuality.

There are some serious downsides to television viewing. Obesity in children is growing dramatically with almost one in three children now considered overweight or obese. Sedentary lifestyles are a major factor. Balance television viewing with physical activity. Minimize snacking or at least choose healthy foods.

Similarly, television should not be allowed to interfere with academics. Require that homework be completed first. Set a good example by not leaving the television on in the background all the time so you can discourage your children from claiming that they need to have it on while studying.

Unless you are Amish, you probably cannot expect to shelter your children from any exposure to television. It is more effective to focus your efforts on using the power of television for good purposes or at least minimizing its negative effects.

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