Children spend an average of 17 hours a week watching TV, which cuts into family time, promotes inactive lifestyles and is linked to weight problems.

As a guideline for parents, The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents limit children’s TV viewing to no more than one to two hours of quality programming a day. To help achieve this goal parents can:

• Designate certain days of the week as TV-free days.
  
• Turn the TV off during mealtime.
  
• Move the TV to a less prominent location.
  
• Listen to music instead of watching TV.
  
• Read to your children.
  
• Have your child draw a picture.
  
• Suggest your child play a game with a sibling.
  
• Put a puzzle together.
  
• Limit channel surfing.
  
• Allow your children to watch only one to two shows a week.
  
• Limit the number of TV sets in your home to one or two.
  
• Do not put a TV in your child’s bedroom.