Someone should keep track of the viewing hours. Parents should keep a record of how much TV their children watch. If they watch TV for a long time, then they may be quite surprised at the number of hours a week are spent in front of a box. They will be in a better position to institute the needed changes once a parent knows the extent of the problem.
The TV should not be used as the "electronic babysitter." A child should not get into the habit of using the TV has a babysitter no matter how busy he/she is. Instead, a child should come up with some active pastimes that he/she can pursue when a parent can't supervise. Also, a week's worth a TV watching should be kept.
The "No-TV on school nights" rule should be tried as an experiment. School nights are school homework and not for TV. According to experts "This is an easy rule to enforce." In a family meeting, this rule should be discussed so a child knows why the rule is so important. Necessarily, children won't watch TV all weekend just to make up for what they missed on the week nights.
A TV set does NOT belong in a child's bedroom unless (unless a parent wants to lose control of how and when they use it). Background temptation should be switched off because children should be discouraged from leaving the TV on as a background noise since it's usually too stimulating visually. Children could be watching instead of just listening. If they want to hear something when doing other things, a record or the radio should be played instead.
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