How to Monitor a Teen's TV Time

When it comes to monitoring the television programming your teen watches, the problems aren't much different than when you were her age. Most parents have two concerns with their teens and TV--that the content may be inappropriate and that too much time is spent watching TV and not doing important things like homework or spending quality time with the rest of the family.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Place restrictions upon the TV habits of your teen by enforcing rules concerning when he can watch TV, how long he can watch TV and which programs he may or may not watch. Make the rules clear and stick to them, providing clear consequences if he disobeys. For instance, you may want to prohibit his TV time until he has completed his homework or finished his daily chores around the house.
2. Monitor your teen's TV time by sitting down and actually watching her programs with her. This is the best way to determine if the specific programs she enjoys are appropriate for her age and whether you should continue to allow her to watch. When you watch TV programs with your children, you can easily see objectionable content through their eyes and take action.
3. Use technologies such as the V-chip or the locking features many cable and satellite TV companies use to help parents restrict their teens' viewing habits. You can tailor these features toward the ages of your children in accordance with the TV rating system, which includes TV-Y (appropriate for young children), TV-G (general audiences), TV-PG (parental guidance suggested), TV-14 (not recommended for children under 14) and TV-MA (for mature audiences only).
4. Balance the time your teen spends watching TV with other activities, such as playing outside, reading or listening to music. Studies have shown that watching too much TV can cause other senses, especially the sense of touch and smell, to dull over time since they are not being properly exercised.
5. Monitor your teen's TV time by discussing his favorite programs with him. By listening to your teen's comments, you can usually determine if he is watching quality programming or if he is simply wasting his time.

Tips & Warnings

• Recent studies at Washington State University show that young children who watch more than 2 hours of television per day may develop problems with their attention spans by the time they are teenagers.

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