Talking About Kids tips for February 12th's program, Video Games/TV/Internet

Television

• Encourage your children to watch educational programs.
• Talk about what you see on TV
• Limit watching time to no more than 20 hours per week
• With young children, watch TV with them and talk to them about how the characters feel, other endings that they can create.
• Don't let your child watch the news alone. If your child does see the news, talk to him or her about it.
• With the jury still out on the impact of violence on TV on aggression in children, you can judge from your knowledge of how your child reacts on how much, if any violence to which s/he can be exposed.

Video Games

• There is no published research that playing violent video games causes violent behavior in children, even very young children. Video games can, in fact, help develop motor skills, provide social interaction as well as topics for social discussion. If you believe your child is not able to separate reality from fantasy, talk to him or her about the games that are being played and their lack of reality.
• Video game marketers describe the games in detail. Read the descriptions.

Internet

• Encourage creative uses of the internet, such as talking to pen pals in other cultures, or who have the same interests as your child.
• Teach your child not to talk to strangers not approved by you, or give out any personal information such as his or her real name, password, address, etc.
• Look for educational web sites.
• Offer your child optional games to play. If you give your child a choice, he or she will often choose a nonviolent game on their own.

General Tips for Concerns Related to All Media

Guidelines: (TLC) Time, Listen, Content
• TIME: Monitor the amount of time your child spends with a given activity. Children have to learn skills to develop independently, and also, how to work and play with others. Help your child obtain a balance.
• LISTEN: Listen to what your children say regarding why they want to spend their time watching TV, playing video games, and cruising the internet. Communicate in a way that will facilitate a give-and-take conversation. Children respond best when parents give well though out answers and explanations, which respect the child's individual differences, yet make the limits clear.
• CONTENT: Know the content of the shows, games, and chat rooms with which your children are involved. Explain to your children, or help them think about why you are opposed to any specific activity.

  There are filtering devices you can include, though not foolproof. With older children and adolescence, you can monitor as much as you can, and then trust them.

  In extreme cases, you can always remove the TV or computer until your child is willing to behave responsibly. At least in your house, this is virtually foolproof.

Patrick McGuffin, Ph.D
PH: (215) 762-89l6
e-mail: mcguffin@auhs.edu