Read through the television section on Sunday evening and decide what shows you want to watch for the coming week. Watch with children. Talk together about the programs and relate it to your own lives. Show that you value their opinion. But, when adults do watch with children, it's important that they speak up when something offends or impresses them.
Discussions led by an adult can dramatically improve the value of almost any program.
One or two comments from an adult or parent during or after a show can have an impact on their child and the end impact of that program on their child. Encourage Alternate Activities. Think about how information comes from many resources. Encourage children to go with you to the library, to look at picture books, look up answers in reference books or start enjoying the newspaper. Decide how television viewing can be an inspiration and a spring-board for family projects like locating places on a map, hiking together, exploring nature or writing a dictated child's story.