Press The Off Button

Making TV Decisions for Your Children

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Dating Tips and Advice

Q: Dear April Masini,

I recently read a study about violence on television and how it affects children, but I'm not sure what to do about it. Does the violence on TV really cause children to be violent? Or is watching TV just making them less inclined to deal with the real world in a positive way? There's so much information, and I can't decide whether turning the TV off completely is the best thing for my children, or whether I should be monitoring what they watch, or what?

Any tips?

Sincerely,

Worried Dad 

A:

Dear Worried Dad,

The study touting a link between TV viewing and verbal and physical aggression has less to do with the fact that people are watching television and a lot to do with what they are watching on television. Watching 12 hours a day of PBS is not going to promote violence, ADD, depression or poor educational habits. In fact, watching PBS on a regular basis may improve on all of those problems. However, watching violent programming very well may add to violent behavior, ADD, depression and poor educational habits.
The boom in technology is not the problem with social behavior. Cultural changes toward lack of civilization are what promote negative behaviors. There could be a television in every room in the world, and it wouldn't change behavior unless the programming broadcast and consumed was negative. 

We have choices what to watch, read, listen to and surround ourselves with. All the technology in the world can't change that. There is always an on and off button, and a channel changer. We can use them if we want.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

Date Out Of Your League Think & Date Like a Man Ideas for a Fun Date Romantic Date Ideas

© 2004-2009 AskApril.com, LLC. All rights reserved. AskApril®, AskApril.com®, and Ask April® are registered trademarks owned by Masini Enterprises, Inc. This material can only be republished and redistributed if it is kept in it's original form, including, but not limited to, all AskApril branding, banners, links, books, and credits.