What's on TV?

Do you know what your children are watching on TV? It's an important question for parents to ask as they seek to raise well-behaved children.

A recent Associated Press story that ran in the Southeast Missourian highlighted a study where 565 parents in Seattle were asked to keep a TV-watching diary for their children and to observe their behavior. One group was tasked with improving their child's diet with healthier foods. The other focused on TV content.

As the study progressed, children gradually saw an increase in their time watching TV. The group focused on TV content used the time to show educational shows instead of violent programs. After six months, both groups saw improved child behavior, but the children who watched more educational programs fared better. After one year, there was little difference between the groups.

The study brings up a key issue: In addition to how much TV children watch, it's important to observe the content. Parents need to be mindful of the messages their children receive -- particularly when they are a captive audience in front of the TV. This makes a difference, and efforts that help improve child behavior will pay dividends now and in their future.