The attraction of television is undeniable when it comes to kids. Here are guidelines we created to help us decide what's appropriate for our family: Monitor television time. Choosing good shows isn't a big issue if you're not watching a lot of television, so really the best solution to finding appropriate television is saying, "Go play." Don't trust network ratings. A kid-approved stamp given by a television network is a general guide that doesn't take into account your parenting style and the things your family feels are important. There are plenty of adult cartoon shows on television now, many with highly inappropriate topics. The bottom line is, I want to know what my kids are watching, and if the TV is on my time in our home, I want to first approve of the show ahead of time, and second to watch it with my kids so that I'm aware of anything they might be seeing that needs intervention (干涉).Talk about the show with your kids. As kids get older, we realize that we can't shelter them from every single person/show/behavior that doesn't fit exactly with our values. They're going to hear a swear word from time to time—and might walk into the room while the characters in the romantic comedy we're watching are kissing.
A. If it doesn't feel good, turn it off.
B. And be aware of cartoons!
C. We can talk about what we see, though, using story-lines to teach lessons when possible.
D. The standard for what our kids can watch might be difficult to set.
E. But how do you choose which shows are appropriate for the younger set?
F. Watch TV with them.
G. Still, a little bit of television doesn't hurt and can be fun.
