While TV violence does not increase aggressive behavior toward people in most children, it may do so in disturbed or impulsive children. Help your child become interested in sports, games, hobbies, and music. Occasionally turn off the television and take a walk or play a game with your child. Read to your children. Begin reading to your child by 1 year of age and encourage him to read on his own as he becomes older.
Some parents help children earn TV or video game time by equivalent reading time.
Help him improve his conversational skills by spending more of your time talking with him. Limit TV time to 2 hours a day or less. An alternative is to limit TV to 1 hour on school nights and 2 or 3 hours a day on weekends. Occasionally you may want to allow extra viewing time for special educational programs. Don't use TV as a distraction or a baby-sitter for preschool children.