2005 Year in Review

Surrender the Remote! Turn Off the TV Week Is Apr. 25-May 1

Does TV promote materialism in children, cause them to grow up too early, and encourage them to use bad language and behave in violent or antisocial ways? Yes, say 90 percent of parents in a recent study.

So why do 51 percent of children live in homes that have a TV on almost all the time, even when no one is watching? A March 2005 study revealed this startling statistic and also revealed that 63 percent of families leave the TV on during mealtime, while 68 percent of American kids have a TV in their bedroom.

Let's face it. As a nation, we're hooked, even though 20 years of research confirm that many of parents' worries about TV are legitimate. "And even though parents are concerned, over half of all children report that their families have no rules at all about television watching," said Aaron Ebata, a family life specialist with University of Illinois Extension.

"It's time to take a thoughtful look at how we spend our time as families," Ebata said. "When eight- to 18-year-olds spend more time (an average 6-1/2 hours a day) consuming media--TV, videos, DVDs, or other prerecorded programs--than they do with schoolwork, interacting with friends and family, exercising, or reading for pleasure, it's time to examine our viewing habits. A good first step is taking part in Turn Off the TV Week from April 25 to May 1."

Ebata has several suggestions for parents who want to turn off the TV for a week and think about when and how they want to turn it back it back on again.

-Set an example. Take a hard look at your own viewing habits and reflect on how they might affect your family life.

- Place the TV in a public place so you can monitor what your child is watching. The 2005 study found that children who have TVs in their room spend less time reading (surprise!) than children who don't have their own TVs.

- Turn off the TV when no one is watching and especially during meals. The 2005 study also found that when the TV is left on most of the time, even during mealtime, children are less likely to talk about their problems with their parents.

- Make and enforce rules about TV watching, especially with preteen children. Kids in homes with TV rules report watching less TV and more time reading. Several studies show, however, that taking a really hard-line approach with teenage children can backfire, making them more interested in forbidden programs.

- Talk with your children about why you have certain rules or restrictions. This is a good opportunity to talk about your family's values and why you're concerned about too much TV watching. You should acknowledge that different families have different rules.

- Help children learn how to select programs and choose videos or DVDs as an alternative to channel-surfing or just watching whatever snags their interest. Learn more about the V-chip, TV ratings, and websites and publications that give information on program content. Consider having a regular movie night at home and involve children in selecting and discussing the movie.

- Talk with your children about the content of programs and commercials. Several studies show that watching programs with sex or violence in them and not making comments or making only neutral comments about what you are viewing leads children to believe you approve of the content. Parents can make a difference by expressing disapproval of violent behavior, empathizing with victims and focusing on the consequences of violence, and pointing out the ways in which TV programs differ from real life.

So how could it hurt to hide the remote for a week? Your family might get hooked on healthier pastimes instead. Let the neighbors wonder about the family next door that's always chattering away to each other as they set off on another bike ride. If that family wants to watch a rerun of "Everybody Loves Raymond" they've already seen three times before, that's okay for them. You have better things to do.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
April 28, 2005