Yet, ironically, our actions often do not reflect the same concern. In an era with many fragmented or broken homes, parents must ask themselves how serious they are about putting their family first and how willing they are to commit to the time and effort it takes. For single parents this is particularly challenging but not impossible. Not all recreation, however, is of equal value. For example, Americans spend a great portion of their free time watching television.
TV requires little effort and provides little opportunity for family members to interact.
Instead of receiving the attention children crave from their parents, they give their attention to a non-responsive object. Consequently, the benefits vary widely depending on the programming. Often the influence of television is negligible or even detrimental. Research suggests that youth who engage in activities characterized by these principles benefit in a variety of ways. They do better in school and have higher educational expectations.