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Guidelines from PBS for Rating Children's Television Here are suggestions to help you judge what kind of programs will be beneficial for your children. Put this near the TV and share the ideas with your children. Television is Fine When: It promotes creativity and critical thinking. It engages children to think and ask questions. It encourages positive behaviors. It promotes respect for self, for peers and for parents and teachers. It encourages your children to read. It reinforces the values that are important to you. It inspires your children to want to learn more. It helps your children to appreciate other cultures. It entertains your children. It helps your child expand his or her vocabulary and proper language usage. It has a pace that children can follow. Adults are aware of what their children are watching. And children aren't watching for too long.

Television is a Problem When: It exposes children to violence as a means of problem solving. It occupies too much of your children's time. It introduces subject matter that's not appropriate for children. It presents gender, racial or cultural stereotypes. It encourages children to think that they need to buy products. It promotes negative behaviors. For more helpful tips from PBS for Teachers, Caregivers and Parents, go to PBS Teachersource.