Below are several sample questions and responses. If you answered Often or Sometimes to this question, you may want to consider turning on the TV only when you have first determined that something is worth watching. Research shows that children and adults exposed to media violence become desensitized to it. They show reduced physiological response and are also less likely to seek help for real victims of violence. Research shows that in laboratory studies, rats who play in complex environments build more brain cells than rats who observed other rats playing.
Active engagement produces more brain growth than watching others in active engagement.
With your children, gather one or more family photo albums, several catalogs and magazines, construction paper or poster board, scissors, and glue or tape. Ask your children why we take photographs of things. 3.With your children, look through a family photo album and create a list of activities or events that have been captured on film. Look through the photo album again, looking for pictures of people watching TV, watching movies, playing computer or video games, or surfing on the Internet. Discuss how much time each week the family spends watching TV, watching movies, playing computer and video games, and surfing the Internet compared to the other activities illustrated by the photos.