How to Limit Television for Kids
- 1). Place the TV in a central place in the home, such as the living room or a designated entertainment center. If it's tucked away out of view, kids may be more likely to watch it without your knowledge. Make sure the TV is surrounded by other types of entertainment, such as a shelf full of books or a cabinet of board games. It lends the impression that television isn't the only (or even the primary) type of entertainment.
- 2). Set a daily limit on the amount of TV your kids watch each day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours of viewing a day and no television at all if the child is under the age of 2. Stick to that and ensure that the television stays off when the allotted time is up.
- 3). Establish television viewing as a privilege rather than a right. Don't allow the kids to watch television until they finish their homework, household chores and other important tasks. You can use DVRs or other recording devices to ensure that they don't miss their favorite shows, while still ensuring that they don't watch the set before getting other things done.
- 4). Keep the TV off when you're eating meals , have guests over or are engaging in similar activities when it's not appropriate to watch. It sends the message that some things are more important.
- 5). Encourage alternate activities, particularly those which involve playing or exercising outside. It encourages your kids to look for other ways to entertain themselves, as well as preventing them from just lying on the couch. You can ties this step into previous steps easily; for example, by never allowing the television to be on during daylight hours, when the kids can be out playing.
- 6). Set specific shows to watch, either those with educational content or particular favorites that your kids love. That helps you cut down on channel surfing, which keeps the kids from using the TV as de facto entertainment when "there's nothing to do."
- 7). Make television a family event. Set a specific time to watch--during the weekend or on a designated night when nothing else is going on. Talk about the show with your kids afterward; it makes the experience less passive and keeps you involved in their lives. It also allows you to monitor the shows for appropriate content and curtail it if you don't feel your kids should watch.
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