MONITORING KIDS' TV VIEWING


"Parental controls allow you to block out shows you don't want your kids to see. It's either that, or hide the remote. But I never remember where I hid it." – Tiki Barber, Today Correspondent, NBC Sports

What You Should Know...

It is important for parents to know what their children are viewing and protect them against unwanted content. While watching television with your child is the best way to monitor what they watch, parents are not always able to be in the room with their kids. There are various tools available to help parents protect their children from inappropriate programs.

Protection by law

Protecting children from unfavorable television content happens both on a state level and in the home. In 1990, Congress enacted the Children's Television Act, which requires each U.S. broadcast station to serve the education needs of children within their overall programming, while limiting the commercial time during kids' programs. Children's programming must be a weekly scheduled program of at least 30 minutes and must air between 7am to 10am.

Protection in the home

While the television is a great educational tool, it also exposes children to various kinds of programs, which may not be appropriate for their age. Only 47 percent of 8-18 year olds have rules about television watching in their homes. Parents need to set guidelines for their children, while also monitoring the content in their programs. While watching television with your children is the best way to prevent them from seeing unwanted content, there are also various tools that help parents monitor their kids when they cannot be there themselves.

One way to know if a television show is suitable for your child is to pay attention to the television rating. Every program is given a rating based on the target audience and the program content. The target audience ratings include: TV-Y (all children), TV-Y7 (children age 7 and above), TV-Y7-FV (children age 7 and above, contains strong fantasy violence), TV-G (general audience), TV-PG (parental guidance suggested), TV-14 (parents strongly cautioned) and TV-MA (mature audiences only). Content ratings include: V (violence), S (sexual situations), L (coarse language), D (suggestive dialogue) and FV (fantasy violence). These labels are shown on the television screen during the first 15 seconds of the program and are available with the television listings in most newspapers and magazines. The broadcast and cable networks rate shows per episode, therefore the rating for the program may change daily.

The V-chip is installed in most televisions and allows parents to block programs and channels that are inappropriate for children. This is a great tool to monitor children's television content when an adult cannot be present. The V-chip uses the TV ratings to help determine which material is appropriate. Televisions that are 13 inches or larger and were manufactured after 2000 have a V-chip installed; if your TV does not have V-chip capabilities, your cable or satellite provider may be able to block material as well.

Cable subscribers can request a lockbox, which blocks certain networks. Some analog and digital cable boxes are capable of blocking networks and can be controlled by the subscriber without going through the company. Cable companies are also required by law to scramble any video and audio from networks that are not subscribed to by a household.

What You Can Do...

Here are a few simple tips that parents can follow that will help make the television a safe and educational tool for children.

  • Maintain balance
    Make sure to balance your child's daily schedule; television time should be balanced out with other more physical activities.

  • Reinforce your values
    Don't rely on the television to teach your child your values. Choose programming that reinforces the messages that you want your child to learn.

  • Keep a schedule
    Schedule TV time for your child so that it does not interfere with homework, family time or chores.

  • Preview programs
    Watch shows alone before your child does in order to assess whether you are comfortable with the programming content and the messages that it sends to children.

  • Make your own library
    Record and save shows that are appropriate for your child. Sometimes it is easier to pull shows from your library, especially during busy times.

  • Make TV a family activity
    Put the television in a common area of the house and use it as a way to relax as a family. With the TV as a main gathering place, it is easier to monitor shows and address any issues that are covered in the programs.

  • Keep communication open
    Speak with your children about what they see on TV. Encourage them to ask questions and keep an open dialogue about different issues that arise in the program's content.

  • Be a good role model
    Make sure your schedule is balanced out with both indoor and outdoor activities and always choose family time over television time.

To Know More...

More resources...



related
videos

Adrian Pasdar
Adrian Pasdar
Watch Now

Tiki Barber
Tiki Barber
Watch Now

Mariska Hargitay
Mariska Hargitay
Watch Now