Television programming has come a long way since the days when there were only three channels. Then all programs had to be more or less family-friendly. Since, the amount of channels have ballooned to the hundreds, and the amount of adult content has increased with it. Consider that by the time a child reaches the age of 18, they will have seen over 200,000 acts of violence on the television screen.
However, parents aren’t defenseless, as there are a variety of ways to save children from witnessing harmful adult programming.
Parental Controls
As the rise in technology has made it easier for children to access adult television shows, parents can use the same technology against itself. For one, most cable boxes sold by a provider features settings that can lock selected programs. Getting those channels unlocked then requires a password, which any parent can create. The most famous technology is the once controversial V-Chip.
Satellite Packages
Parents can also cut off the source at the head by not having access to those channels to begin with. Satellite television providers have taken the lead in giving consumers the option of what channels they want. Additionally, channels are placed in easy to understand categorical packages such as family or sports so that buyers can choose what channels best suit them. Parents can visit a provider’s site like www.direct.tv and see the list of available packages, and what customization features they offer.
Education and Involvement
The reality is that parents can’t monitor what their children watch every hour of the day. Instead, parents should be active in explaining what type of programming they shouldn’t watch and why it’s harmful. Also, getting kids involved in other activities like sports or other hobbies will certainly mean less time in front of the TV and less chance of watching adult programming.
Overall, parents should take a comprehensive approach, but be reasonable and not smothering.