According to a study done by the Department of Pediatrics at University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, next to the family, television has the greatest social impact on teens. The average 12 to 17 year old watches about 23 hours of TV per week.  It’s important for parents to “take control” of the television show that teens watch.  Today’s young teens spend more time watching TV (15,000 hours) than they do in school (11,000 hours). During an average year, the same American youth are exposed to:

• More than 14,000 sexual references and jokes, yet less than 175 will deal with self-control behavior
•  Between 1,000 and 2,000 beer and wine commercials
• More than 1,000 murders, rapes, assaults, and armed robberies, and
•  Nearly 20,000 commercials

What Parents Can Do To Take Control of Their Teens TV

The Pediatrics Department at the University of Iowa provided parents with the following recommendations to help them “take control” of  TV watching by teens:

• Make family rules about TV and stick to them. Decide what you want to change about your current viewing habits.
• Set limits on TV viewing time (hours per day and when the TV should be off).
• Select TV shows ahead of time.
• Use a TV guide instead of flippi.ng through channels with a remote control
• Keep TV out of your room.
• Turn TV off during mealtime and while doing other things.
• Schedule TV time around your schedule.
• Leave the TV off when doing your homework This will allow you to concentrate more and finish earlier.
• Special devices can be bought which lock out or preset programs, channels and times for TV viewing.
• Watch TV with family and friends.
• Discuss issues seen on TV. Talk about your opinions with family and friends.
• Use sensitive topic themes seen on TV to raise discussion with others.
• If you are watching something violent think of other ways to solve problems without hurting someone or something. Talk about why nonviolence is important to you.
• Talk about TV production techniques used to grab and keep your attention.
• When you watch commercials try to identify what techniques are being used to sell the product.
• When you see food commercials on TV think about what is in the product and if it is good for you. 
•  Compare what you see on TV with people, places an events you have seen or learned about.
•  Use books to learn more about topics on TV that interest you.
• Vote on whether shows are worth watching again.
• Express your opinions about TV viewing with friends and family or by writing to local stations or national networks

18 Things To Encourage Your Teen To Do Instead of Watching TV

 
1. Play board or card games
2. Draw or paint
3. Start a new hobby
4. Write a letter, article or book
5. Have a family night
6. Watch videotapes instead of regular TV
7. Exercise – Go for a walk, swim, play ball, bike, etc.
8. Collect something
9. Visit the library, museums, mall or other points of interest
10. Play a musical instrument
11. Read
12. Cook
13. Play educational computer games
14. Go to an arts or sports event
15. Join a club or activity group
16. Start a newsletter for friends and family
17. Make something with clay
18. Listen to music, sing and dance