Turn Off the TV, Tune Into Family

It is unrealistic to expect parents and children will turn off the TV for good. Given our love affair with technology and TV, smart viewing is the key. For those parents looking for a happy and reasonably healthy medium, Pieraccini has the following recommendations:

• Educational programs, such as Sesame Street and Playhouse Disney's Little Einsteins, are best, with their emphasis on multiculturalism and learning.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests children watch no more than two hours per day and that content be carefully monitored.
• Parents should know about the V-Chip (a parental TV blocking tool) and how to use it.
• Talk about what you watch with your kids.