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Most parents complain that their children watch too much television. In this age and time television is a fact of life. One doesn't come across families that don't have one, or that never watch one. While there is nothing wrong with television per se one has to be selective when it comes to watching television and how much of it you can allow your children. Television is educational, informative, and uplifting. At the same time, a lot of what is shown on TV is nothing but drivel. It is nowhere near uplifting or educational, and shows certain behavior that is quite unacceptable and undesirable in most social circles. But, children are too small to discern the difference and make intelligent choices. Furthermore, time in front of the TV is time NOT spent in physical activity, nor in conversation. In other words, watching television is a largely passive, solitary, activity that undermines healthy social behavior and promotes obesity and other "couch potato" disorders. Television certainly influences behaviors. If it didn't, advertisers wouldn't spend so many billions of dollars on their tiny, 30-second slices of it. So, short of throwing the TV out of the window, how can you limit your child's exposure to it to reasonable amounts? Here are some suggestions: 1. To begin with, you will need to cut down on your own TV watching. If you spend 4 hours a day watching soaps and other nonsense, you can't expect your child to be selective and watch television in a limited time. Parents have to become good role models for their children. You can influence the impressionable minds of your children by setting good examples rather then by preaching to them. 2. The problem with most adults and children is that they have got so addicted to television that in its absence they don't know what to do. Again, you will have to find alternate activities first for yourself, and then for your children. Think of things to do that are healthy and pro-social. The best ones would be to take up some sport like swimming, hockey, football, etc or revive your interest in hobbies such as dancing, painting, scrap-booking, collecting stamps and coins and so on. There is no dearth of what you can do but the bottom line is to do something, not just sit and watch others doing. Even if you feel like relaxing it is a good idea to pick up a good book to read. It will exercise your brain as it relaxes your body. How about listening to your favorite music? Take a visit to your local recreation center and/or adult education center and see what programs and classes they have on offer. Make a deal with your child that if he attends one of his choice you will offer some incentive. 3. Television watching timings will have to be regulated. You can speak to your child and mutually agree to avoid watching TV at specific times, such as before school, or after 9 pm, or during meals. Fix a day of the week as a regular TV-free day and dedicated to outdoor activity. 4. Another way is to opt for pre-schedule television, which allows you to watch only what has been pre-booked. This way you won't spend time in channel surfing and the family can together decide what is worth watching. 5. You may want to use television time as a reward for other activities, such as completing household chores, or getting homework done. You will need to draw up some sort of chart to keep track of all this. 6. The best method of getting rid of all TV woes is to watch television together - and then initiate discussion on what you have viewed. This will help your child to evaluate the program and learn something from it. If you discuss the commercials, it will help your children to be less naive and gullible. As a family, you can figure out what tricks the advertisers play to make you want to buy their product. You know that most of the toys and foods don't live up to the hype created around them. 7. Remember to be reasonable and fair while turning off the television. Wait till the show is over and give some reasonable warning. 8. If you can afford to cancel your expensive cable and satellite subscriptions, you will be able to use the extra money for other activities, and there will be less programs to watch. This will do a lot of good to you as a family. You will be able to go out together. You will enjoy a home-cooked pizza on a special family night instead of the usual couch potato routine. As with all things, moderation is usually the key. Be selective. Find the good programs and watch them. The rest of the time, do something more active or more sociable. Within a month or two you will wonder how you (and your kids) ever found the time to watch so much of it.
Article Source: http://www.go-see.info
More expert advice on how to solve children's behavioral problems can be found on Dr. Noel Swanson's website, packed with tips and help on correcting Child Behavior Problems. Make sure you get his FREE newsletter and 1 hour audio too.
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