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2007, Issues 2

Educating, Connecting and Supporting families in Monash

Top TV Tips for Parents

(Adapted from Young Media Website)

Lead by example

Children will model their viewing patterns on what they see you doing. Try to avoid turning the TV on as soon as you arrive home and then leaving it on as background. Practise some guidelines for yourself such as turning the TV off as soon as visitors arrive or after your favourite TV show is finished.

Choose which programs to watch on TV

If we accept that we all use the TV as a babysitter from time to time, consider how carefully you would normally choose a baby-sitter for your child. Remember your children will be picking up values and attitudes from the TV they watch every day. Try to make sure these values and attitudes are what you believe in too.

Keep TV out of kids' bedrooms

Having a TV in a child’s room discourages participation in family activities. It also means that you are not able to explain disturbing or misleading information, or explain how your family values may contradict the values being depicted.

Tape programs the family wants to see

Tape good children's programs for later viewing. Young children love to watch their favourites over and over again. The episodes, which are often shown on the ABC, are good fillers while you get the evening meal. When tea is ready, it will be easier for young children to turn the TV off at the end of one of these than in the middle of a longer show or video.

Set clear guidelines about when the TV can be on

Plan TV free times during the day. Depending on the age of your children, you can work out these guidelines with their input. The sort of guidelines you might want to think about are: no TV before school, that the TV only goes on once homework is completed, only one hour of TV per day etc. The clearer the guidelines the better.

Don't make TV the focal point of the room

If it isn't possible to create a separate area, try to rearrange the room so that the TV is no longer the focal point. Research shows that people watch less TV if it is not in the most prominent location in the room. Put the TV in a cabinet or cupboard or drape a rug over it.

Have meals in a different room

Turn off the TV at meal times and sit around a table. Catch up with one another and share stories and activities from each family member's day.

Find the 'OFF' button on the TV set.

And practise using it.

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Updated: 26 June 2007

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