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What Parents Can Do
A recent study found that parents spend 40 percent less time with their children than their
parents did. On average, parents spend about 17 hours a week with their children, while their
children spend as many as 40 hours a week using all forms of media. Take proactive steps to make sure that you—and not the television—are influencing your child.
| Top Ten Steps for Parents from The Other Parent by James P. Steyer |
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Establish good media habits and values at an early age with
your child—set limits on usage and help them choose the content you find appropriate. |
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Location, location, location: No TV or computer in your child's room. |
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Set a media diet and stick to it. |
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Teach your child to ask permission to use the media. |
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Watch and listen with your kids—then tell them what you like, don't like and why. |
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Set clear rules regarding your child's media use in other homes. |
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Have pediatricians review your kids' media use as part of their annual checkup. |
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In schools and homes, teach media literacy—the ability to access, analyze, evaluate and process media. |
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Read to your children and share positive media experiences. |
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Switch the dial to "off." |
More Advice for Parents
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Be a role model for your children with your television habits. |
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Parents have to set limits to watching TV, playing video games, etc. |
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Make television less passive by interacting with your kids about what they're watching on TV, what their impressions were and what they learned from it. |
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Get your children involved in activities like reading, playing sports, doing artwork, etc. |
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Praise and encourage your children when they participate in other activities. |
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Instead of watching TV with your children, spend time checking out books from the library, playing board games or playing outside. |
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| Can the media have any positive influence on your child? |
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