Table 4.

Parents’ insights on encouraging appropriate screen viewing

Parents’ opinions regarding developing appropriate screen-viewing behaviors at an early age “If they learn now to do other activities, then it will be better off for them. They won’t rely so much on TV as they get older, they will be able to do other things that are important.” “I just want them to know that there is more than just watching TV. There are other things that you can go out and do. You can be active in sports, you can go for a walk, you can walk through the woods, you can color, you can cut and paste.” “It’s very important (to develop healthy lifestyle in early age), because you don’t want them to become—I call them—couch potatoes…. I want them to be able to come home and start doing homework or whatever they have to do and not rely on flipping the TV.”

Parents’ role modeling “Yes, the child will imitate the parents.” “I think parents should lead by example. If we’re active and we’re doing things, then I think our children will learn that lifestyle…. So if you’re active and trying not to watch too much TV, I think that your children will follow that.”

Promoting positive message, instead of condemning “I would find it fairly offensive if somebody would come and say, ‘You are doing a bad parenting job because your children are watching too much TV.’ I would say well, try it. But if somebody would say maybe you could do this, this, or this instead, of them watching TV for 4 hours.”

Home-based activities “Turn off the TV and turn on Raffi (music).” “Let’s keep them active if they want to watch TV. Get them involved in our chores.” “I’ll use the, ‘Oh, there’s nothing on but news.’ All you do is go to CNN, the Weather Network, and that kind of thing and say there’s nothing on, the cartoons are over.”

Activities to replace TV “For me, it’s getting out of the house. If we’re in the house, it’s really hard for me personally. I’ll just turn the TV on.” “Turn the darned thing (TV) off. Go to the library and…”