Parents, how often do you get into arguments with your children over TV time? Rather than letting your children watch TV indiscriminately for hours on end, require them to choose one or two shows and then record them to be watched at a later time of your choosing – no “real time” viewing allowed. This accomplishes several things:

• Forces children to choose specific shows
• Eliminates channel surfing (teaching the skill of paying attention)
• Allows a parent to control when children watch (after chores, etc)
• Eliminates the “turn it off!” fight
• Allows a parent to better monitor content

This can also hold true for video games. Have children choose the one specific game to play. Ask how long a round lasts, and set the timer. Better yet, play the game with them.

This is especially important to enforce on the weekends when kids spend a good deal of time at home. Limiting electronics forces them to find other ways to entertain themselves and not habituate to the “instant gratification” mindset afforded through electronics.

Set the expectation now. Summer is just around the corner.