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These foolproof strategies will wean your family from TV, leaving more time to enjoy life–and each other!

It started out innocently enough:

Nick Jr. in the morning and Sesame Street in the evening. But by the time my kids entered school, they were hooked. For at least 2 hours every day, and more on weekends, both boys–not to mention my husband–were glued to the TV. I hated how the minute one of them switched it on, our family switched off.

Finally, after watching them zone out in front of a televised game one evening, I decided I’d had enough. We got rid of one television, put the other in the closet, and discontinued our cable service. Three years later, my kids read tons of books, ride their bikes, and play board games instead of watching–and I’m delighted.

Research suggests that kids who sit glued to TVs are more likely to be overweight, have a short attention span, and struggle with sleep problems than children who spend little or no time tethered to the tube. While a recent study found that television doesn’t cut into reading time, others have confirmed that it interferes with learning: Researchers in Washington, California, and New Zealand found that the more time kids clocked in front of the screen, the poorer their academic performance.

That’s not to say television is without redeeming qualities. Programs such as Sesame Street can help children learn by introducing them to the alphabet and reinforcing values such as sharing.

"TV isn’t inherently good or bad; it’s how it’s used that makes the difference," says Dimitri Christakis, MD, MPH, pediatric researcher at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle. The key, he says, is to make sure kids have time for creative play and interaction with family and friends. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends no more than 2 hours of quality programming a day.

Here’s how to make the most of TV’s possibilities without letting your kids get hooked.

Do
Make rules
Eliminate TV during meals and until homework is done. Give an older child a TV budget for the week. "Ground rules eliminate arguments," says Thomas N. Robinson, MD, MPH, an associate professor of pediatrics at Stanford University. "Set them in stone and make sure the babysitter and grandparents know them, too."

Use TV time wisely
A documentary about lions or a biography of Rosa Parks sparks a child’s interest in the world. You can also watch DVDs so you’re not at the mercy of objectionable programming.

View it together
That way, you can monitor programs and mute ads. (The average child sees about 40,000 commercials a year, mostly for high-calorie cereals and snacks.) Also, you’ll be there to explain questionable content.

Think first
Before you switch it on, ask yourself what watching TV or a DVD is replacing. If the answer is coloring, running around outside, or reading a book together, then leave the set off.

Hide the set away
Put your TV in a cabinet with a door. Seeing a television tempts kids to turn it on.

Don’t
Use TV as a babysitter
Instead, gather a box of hats, shoes, and other dress-ups to keep kids occupied, or let them make masking tape roads around the house.

Let toddlers watch
Research suggests that early exposure to TV may harm brain development and reading skills. The AAP recommends no TV viewing for children under age 2.

Put a TV in your child’s room
Nearly three-quarters of grade-schoolers have one, reports a study by Robinson. And that encourages them to watch it about 2 hours a week more than those who share a family television set.

Quick tip
As a family, look at the TV section of the Sunday paper, and plan what you will watch each day.

Article source: http://www.prevention.com/