But they can help their adolescents analyze, interpret—and cope with—what comes from their television sets.

Here are suggestions “media literacy” specialists offer to help young people resist even the worst influences of television:

1. Set weekly limits on how much TV your family will watch. Stick to them.

2. Plan your television viewing. Encourage the attitude that TV should be watched for specific shows. Use a television guide to select shows to be watched.

3. Set guidelines for selecting programs. Choose programs with ideas that are in tune with your family’s values and ones that could possibly enhance your teen’s education.

4. Make TV watching an interactive, family event. Watch TV together and let characters stimulate conversation about topics that are difficult to discuss—like death, divorce and sex.

5. Use the television as a starting point. Find books and magazines that relate to the interesting programs you’ve watched. Or plan a family outing to a place you’ve seen on TV.

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