DemocraSay

I am also a parent and have the same concerns about television although my son is only 2 1/2. Our strategy thus far is that we don't have a television. We did have one when he was born but as he started walking and talking and figured out how to turn it on suddenly he always wanted it on and seemed mesmerized by it. So we decided to get rid of it for the time being.

But since your kids are much older what I recommend is that you purchase the Time-Scout Monitor (http://www.time-scout.com) This product will allow you to give your kids a weekly allowance of time and when that time runs out the power to the tv goes off. You can once again let them earn their TV time. It also works if you need to limit video games and computer time..basically anything that they need to plug in. Each child has a card that they swipe before and after using the television and you have a card for adding and subtracting time. The Time-Scout Monitor serves as the on/off control.

Good luck!

The problem is that "good habits" are learned in younger years, until seven it should be done, afterwards it is more realization with parents help.
I think you have to engage a lot of time to change this familiar habits together with your children. They are too old to "work" with tricks, like oh lets go for a walk just in the moment they start to watch TV.
You should organize a family member meeting and talk all together like in a little parlament.( So it is like a serious game and everybodies opinion is important).
Make a list of pros and cons of TV together, ask your children what would be better than TV( it is always easier to accept a self found solution),
offer something like going to cinema or looking a film at home all together , so it is a little attraction and it happens in total consciousness (often TV is runnig for they want to relax and the content is not at all realized, only in a subconscious, unhealthy way). Ask them what is the best way to relax for them and maybe exercise together( observe clouds and imagine figures for ex.). A wonderful thing instead watching TV is to read a book together (my husband did this for years many winter evenings long in front of our fireplace- so enjoyable for everyone).
Ok. be creative, be near to your children, don't leave them alone, react on their behaviour and most important, don't look for a program replacing the TV program, this is parents challenge to fulfil their education job.
Good luck and a lot of vivid ideas!

Michel

Finally, on January 14, 1997, Collings gave the exclusive rights to his V-Chip to Tri-Vision Electronics Inc. The announcement was made at a press conference in Toronto. It was covered by many major Canadian as well as US TV networks.

The next step was to have the V-Chip commercialized. So Tri-Vision and Professor Collings worked together to put out the first commercial V-Chip product which was a Set-Top decoder that was capable of handling multiple informational schemes and also able to operate with existing TV technology. The decoder was shown to the public at the Canadian Cable TV Convention in Edmonton, Alberta in 1997. After that it was then shown at the US Cable Convention in Nashville, Tennessee that same year.

From: wanderingpaedagogus
To: xmile
Subject: TV Control
Date: Thu, 05/15/2008 - 11:59am

Be the change you wish to see in your children. Cancel your cable or satellite television service and go play outside with them.