Contact TV stations and major advertisers and express concern about violent programming. Most TV remote controls now have a parental control option that allows parents to program in only the TV stations that they approve of. In some communities the local cable station also can install a devise that will block unwanted programming at little or no charge. Use your child's age and development to guide you in choosing TV programs. Commercials generally hold their attention well, but during most programs you will find them crawling or toddling off to another activity.
Preschoolers have longer attention spans and are able to watch short programs.
However, they often are not able to understand the whole story of a program. They can remember only small pieces of what they see and often cannot tie everything together. Much of this is because they do not yet have a good understanding of cause and effect. They may see someone singing and then a few seconds later see someone sick in bed and conclude that singing makes people sick. Preschoolers also may become frightened by something as simple as a man's face in a cereal box or a talking shoe.