*** Care to Tame the TV Monster?

Consider that the average American child watches four hours of television a day. By one estimate, when U.S. children finish high school, they've spent nearly twice as many hours in front of TV sets as they have in the classroom. (Jane Brody, New York Times News)

Have you ever tallied the number of hours of screen time your children log?

Let's briefly review some of the negative effects that television viewing can have on children:
• sleep problems (The American Academy of Pediatrics states that "mass media" are potent sources of nightmares, sleep disturbances and intense anxietiesÅ even in teenagers.)
• causal link between media violence and aggressive behavior in children
• for every two hours of TV a person watches a day, the risk of becoming obese increases by 23 percent (Parents, 1/2004)
• reduction in reading and completion of homework (Kids who watch more TV read 20 minutes less per day. Ten hours or more of TV a week is linked to lower reading scores.)
• a reduction in creative play that enhance creativity, problem-solving and self-reliance
• an increase in consumerism by viewing tens of thousands of commercials each year thereby increasing their propensity for high-fat, high-sugar foods and other marketing gimmicks.

So, our children are more likely to be overweight, aggressive, less successful in school and have difficulty sleeping. Why do we persist in letting our children watch too much TV?

The obvious answer is that it's easy. It's easy to let the kids plunk down and watch TV while we try to get things done. It's easier than trying to think up things for them to do. It's also easier than trying to break them of the nasty habit.

If you want to make changes, I'm going to provide you with some ideas to help replace the TV habit. The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends two hours or less of "screen time" per day; this includes TV, computers and video games.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
• Don't allow a television in a child¹s room.
• Restrict the number of hours a child can watch.
• Model good choices by limiting the number of hours that you watch TV.
• Encourage reading. Melany Klinck, a mom from Tennessee, allows her children to receive tokens to watch TV (or play video games) only after they read for 30 minutes a day.
• Give out tokens. Traci Baker, a mom from Oklahoma, gives just 5 tokens a week, each worth 30 minutes of TV time. The child then writes his/her choice of TV programs on a calendar and turns in his/her tokens before watching.
• Brainstorm a list of fun and easy activities with your children. Wrap the ideas in fun paper and put them inside a bottle they decorate. Call it the "Boredom Bottle" and when a child needs a fun activity, s/he can shake an idea out of the Boredom Bottle. (Family Fun magazine)
• Visit the Boredom Busters web page at www.familyfun.com/boredombusters.
• Set up different stations around the house that you change from time to time. For instance, you could have a puzzle area, a building area, a craft area or a bookmaking area. Leave one activity out for a few days and then replace it with a new activity.
• Set up more frequent play dates. Having a friend over is probably more fun than watching TV.
• Come up with "theme" nights. You could make Monday, game night, Tuesday could be music night, Wednesday could be fitness night, Thursday could be craft night, Friday could be theater night, etc. Have the kids help come up with the ideas.
• Make the commitment to restrict viewing with another family and plan activities together.
• Pursue volunteer activities that will shift the focus to helping others. Some activities, like making blankets for babies at shelters, can be done at home.
• Make sporting equipment available that encourages your kids to play outside.
• Download a script from www.simplyscripts.com and let the kids (or family) perform a play.

WARNING! If you decide to proceed and restrict TV viewing, the first month will be awful. Don't give up! Those brave, courageous parents who cut back will tell you that they've seen wonderful benefits to restricting TV time. The most important one is that they are connecting in more meaningful ways as a family. Playing a game together allows them time to talk and laugh together. Many parents note that their children are reading more and getting homework done. Other families are happy to see their children involved in creative activities, making inventions or pursuing projects.

For your sake, and your children's, have a plan in place before you restrict their viewing. Hold a family meeting to talk about why you've decided to reduce TV time in your household. (See the September issue of Families First Coaching Newsletter for ideas on how to conduct a meeting.) Brainstorm ideas together that will work for your family.

Also, become an involved parent regarding the choices of TV programs that your children do choose. Ban exceptionally violent shows. Talk about the difference between reality and fantasy. Don't let young children watch TV news programs. Stick to quality programming that you can trust.