Michelle Aycock
savannahnow.com

As the Savannah Film Festival comes to an end, it serves as a reminder to parents that there are some movies or TV shows that are inappropriate for children of certain ages.


Television (and certain movies) is not just harmless entertainment; it can influence the behaviors of viewers - especially young children. According to the American Psychiatric Association, “The debate is over. … For the last three decades, the one predominant finding in research on the mass media is that exposure to media portrayals of violence increases aggressive behavior in children.”

In addition, according to a University of Kansas study, “Television and Socialization of Young Children,” young children spend more time watching television than in any other activity except sleep.

This all goes to say, parents need to monitor what their children are watching and how much.

There are several censoring tools available to help keep tabs on and control what their children can view on TV. The V-chip allows parents to block certain TV programs based on rating levels. A password is needed to view blocked shows. The TV-Guardian detects offensive language and mutes the sound so that bad words are not heard. Cable and Dish television companies have their own parental-control options.

Learning about different TV control options and how they work may be time-consuming, but it is time well spent. After all, parents may rest easier knowing they have control over what their child is watching.

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