So what's a parent to do? Playing it safe may be your best bet. Follow the AAP guidelines and help children under the age of two avoid television. If they really want to watch, steer them toward very short, commercial free episodes of educational shows. Then be sure to view the show with your child and talk to her about what's happening. For older children, two hours a day should be the limit. If your children are watching something you're not completely comfortable with, watch the show with them and help them analyze the messages and values being presented And if that doesn't work, you can always try baseball!

References:

Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm

Center For The Advancement Of Health (2001, September 24). Television Can Enhance Children's Intellectual Development, Study Finds. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 30, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2001/09/010924061623.htm

Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center (2004, April 6). Study Finds Link Between Television Viewing And Attention Problem in Children. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 30, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/04/040406090140.htm

Committee on Public Education. Children, Adolescents, and Television. Pediatrics 2001 107: 423-426

Jane Healy. (2004, April). Early Television Exposure and Subsequent Attention Problems in Children [commentary]. Pediatrics. 2004; 113: 917-918. Retrieved September 5, 2008. LexisNexis.

Anna Kuchment; Christina Gillham. (2008, February 8). Kids: To TV or Not TV. Newsweek, 151, 07. Page 60.

New York Medical Center/New York University School of Medicine (2008, May 5). Moms Have Few Interactions With Their Infants During TV Time. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 5, 2008, fromhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505162838.htm

Michael Regalado; Neal Halfon. Primary Care Services Promoting Optimal Child Development From Birth to Age 3 Years: Review of the Literature. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155(12):1311-1322.

University of Washington (2007, August 8). Baby DVDS, Videos May Hinder, Not Help, Infants' Language Development. ScienceDaily. Retrieved August 30, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070808082039.htm