In fact, experts warn that viewing violence can have lifelong harmful effects on children's health.
Parents have the power to limit the influence TV violence has on a child.
Watch with your child and talk about the violence they see to put it in perspective. By the time children complete elementary school, the average child will witness more than 100,000 acts of violence on TV, including 8,000 murders. Children may be exposed to about 5 violent acts per hour during prime time and an average of 26 violent acts per hour during Saturday morning children's programs. The more violence children watch on TV, the more likely they may act in aggressive ways, become less sensitive to others' pain and suffering, and be more fearful of the world around them. Point out that TV often makes hurting or killing someone seem funny or thrilling.