Parents can watch along with their children, discussing important points. Taking the time to find these shows and making them part of your child's regular viewing is well worth the effort. The pacing seemed about right. By age 11 or 12, most kids will have developed the necessary language and thinking skills to analyze news programs designed for their age group. Families can tape it and watch it at home, too, or kids can watch other news programs designed specifically for them.
Most talk shows appeal to early adolescents.
While I don't advocate that children in this age group watch a lot of talk shows, it is realistic to think that they will probably see them. As parents, we can steer young teens away from the polarized treatment of sensational topics to more in-depth thought and analysis. If kids think they are old enough to watch these types of shows, then they are old enough to critique them and talk about them, too. Seek out alternative sources of information. If your young teen has watched a news or talk show about teen pregnancy, for example, have him or her research the facts given on the show.