This is the fourth and final article on the influence of media. It has been quite a journey delving into the world of media and trying to understand how it influences our children and ourselves. Its impact reaches far and wide across the world. And this impact runs deep inside every one of us, even when we think it does not. This is because, as we learned in our first article, media is a teacher. It is teaching you even when you don’t want to be taught. It impacts moral choices, social interactions, health, self-esteem, values, and many other aspects of our lives. Contrary to popular belief, most of this impact is negative and unhealthy on many levels. I honestly believe that we, as adults, parents, and caregivers, have a responsibility to make choices that give our children the healthy life they deserve. And who will benefit from this healthy life? You will, your children will, and we all will because our children are our future.

Okay, okay, I will get off the soap box (but that won’t change how I feel!). You are probably thinking, “What can I do about it? How can I change something that is such a big part of mine and my family’s life?” I have good news for you: You Can Do It! It will take time, patience, and perseverance to bear fruit, but it will be well worth the reward. It is about breaking old bad habits and forming new healthy habits, and that can be a long process. So, let’s begin that process.

The Practicals

I recommend starting with a reality check. Every day for one week write down exactly how much time your children are spending watching television. Also, write down how much time you are spending in front of the television. Write down the start time and the end time each time the television is watched. Then total each day, and then the whole week. I am certain you will be significantly surprised on both accounts. Use this vital information to develop a plan for limiting television time. Here are some of the “practicals” to start addressing television watching.

·  Be Informed. Be informed about what shows your child is watching. Learn more about the shows on the internet, and watch the shows with your children. Make sure the shows are appropriate.

·  Use a timer. Instead of not being aware of how much time they are watching television, set time limits on the amount of time they can watch. Tell them they have 30 minutes each day they can use to watch television. Teach them to make healthy decisions about the shows they choose to watch. Set the timer, watch the show, timer stops, turn off the television. Note: This technique is also effective for computer time and video game time.

·  Earn entertainment time. Set up a system where, for every 60 minutes of an activity, they can watch 30 minutes of television. For example, if they practice their guitar or ride their bike for 60 minutes, they can watch television for 30 minutes. Of course, don’t do this with every activity because then they will be watching too much television and that is what we are trying to avoid.

·  Special Occasions. Save the watching of television for special occasions. If they accomplish something great, have a special movie night or night where they can watch 1 or 2 hours of television. Of course, I would encourage you to celebrate by doing something more social like going bowling, going to a water park, or going out to eat.

·  TV Cart. Put your television on a moving cart and put it in the closet or out of view so it doesn’t become the focal point of the room. This will encourage your children to find other things to do then to simply press a button and get lost in television watching.

·  Remove bedroom TVs. Take the television out of your child’s bedroom! “Children with bedroom TVs score lower on school tests and are more likely to have sleep problems. Having a television in the bedroom is strongly associated with being overweight and a higher risk for smoking.” (A One-Eyed Invader in the Bedroom. March 4, 2008. www.nytimes.com). Children with TVs in their bedrooms are isolated, unmonitored, and spend less time reading, drawing, building, and doing other healthy activities. If they have to watch TV in a more public area you will be able to more closely monitor the amount of time they are watching television because they won’t be locked away in their room with the door closed. Having a television in their room also affects their sleep because they may stay up late watching TV, thus being tired all day at school, which in turn impacts their performance in school. We all should know how important and healthy getting a good night sleep is.

·  Turn Off the Media Week. Turn off the television, computer, video game systems, music, and movies for a week. Did I just say that out loud? Yes I did. Do it and reap the benefits! Plan creative, fun, and enriching activities for you and your children to enjoy. It will be an incredible week of connection with your children!

The Process

You may now ask, “How do I get my child to actually change? All they are going to do now is whine and complain because I am taking something away from them.” Again, I didn’t say it was going to be easy. There is much more to the process then simply setting up rules and limits. Aside from the practicals of limiting and monitoring time in front of the television, there are several other key factors that will help lead to a successful habit change.

·  Persistence. It is not about one short, simple conversation with your child. It is about talking to them about television and its effects on us, and then continuing the conversation throughout the day, week, month, and year. Your persistent message will help instill the healthy value of watching less television and your children will retain that message for years to come.

·  Modeling. It is about being an example for them. Lead by example. We all know how much we influence our children by our actions. It is really amazing, and scary sometimes. Make healthy choices. Make adjustments in the amount of time you watch television. Instead of watching your favorite show, spend time being productive. Help your child be productive too, and invite them to join you. This will show them that they don’t need to watch television. Also, don’t just leave the television on for hours and hours in the background. This just creates unnecessary noise.

·  Exploration. Help your child experience more of life away from the television. Think outside the box (get it…outside of TV!). Explore things they have never had a chance to explore. They (and you!) may find something that will change the course of your lives forever; some new sport, some new instrument, some new skill, some new experience. And you will be happier and healthier than if you were sitting in front of the television!

·  Consistency. It is about being consistent with your television watching guidelines for your children. Set guidelines and time limits and adhere to them. This will teach them the value of consistency and commitment to a standard. If you are wishy-washy in your enforcement of the guidelines, then your child won’t take them or you seriously. Be consistent.

·  Balance. Keep the television watching in proper balance. Like I said before, this isn’t necessarily about throwing the TV out the window. It is about keeping television watching in a healthy balance with the rest of life. Setting limits can be healthy. “Self-discipline (delay of gratification) is a stronger determiner for success in school than intelligence.” (Mediawise: Watch what your kids watch. p.21. National Institute on Media and the Family). This will positively impact your children for years to come because they won’t have spent 9 years of their life glued to the TV by age 65 (A.C. Nielsen Co)! Hopefully you can cut that number in half! Life is about balance. If you spend too much time working, you are out of balance. If you spend too much time playing, you are out of balance. If you spend too much sleeping, you are out of balance. If you spend too much time watching television…you become a zombie!

The Payoff

The results of your efforts: New healthy habits will be formed. And not just habits in regards to watching television. New ways of thinking, new values, healthier social interactions, and higher self-esteem will be formed and these will last a lifetime. Your children will be emotionally healthier and happier. They will have higher self-esteem because they won’t be fed a barrage of images that tell them they are not good enough. They will be more focused and won’t need bells and whistles to keep them interested in an activity. They will be socially healthier. They will spend more time with people, which will help them develop appropriate social skills and interactions. Their life will be more productive and enriching. They may discover a hidden talent in art, music, or science that will enhance their life significantly. They will be physically healthier. Their physical wellbeing will be better because they may be more active, playing sports, playing tag with friends, riding their bike, etc. Oh, and I almost forgot. You will be happier and healthier too. The process may be long and difficult, but the benefits will far exceed any difficulties during the process. The difficulties will be temporary; the results will last a lifetime. To yours and your children’s health!