Watching TV Together With Your Kids

I know people who feel that television is all bad and won't even have a set in the house. Well, I disagree. I think the good outweighs the bad. Especially, if parents set reasonable limits on viewing time and monitor the programs. I also think that sitting down with your kids to watch a program now and then can give you a lot of clues that they're developing. It's also a terrific way to start some discussions. Here are a few ideas:

• Watch a program your child chooses sometimes, even if it's not one you like. Sit together on the couch or in a big chair and take advantage of the opportunity to give a back rub or just hold hands.

• Don't hesitate to speak up if you're offended in any way by a program. This is your chance to point out your views on racism, sexism, or violence, but be careful not to make a lecture out of it. Simply point out something about the show that's offensive to you.

• And do be sure to leave plenty of time for discussion after the program. A good way to start is to ask questions like, "well, what if you were in that situation?" or "how do you think the hero could have handled that?" These are good conversation starters.

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