| Questions 4 through 7 refer to the following article. Children and Television A lot of research has been done trying to determine the effects of television viewing on your child. Some research shows that television is harmful, but is television really harmful to your child? You know that your child loves to be entertained. All children enjoy cartoons and movies. But are these things good for them? How can you monitor your child’s television viewing? Here are some tips parents can take to help reduce television’s negative effect on their children. Watch television with your child — too often TV is used as a cheap babysitter. Know what your child is watching and don't be afraid to turn off the television if you think there is nothing good on. Choose programs carefully — after watching a show, start a family discussion. Ask your children if they understand what the television program was about. Don’t let your child have a TV in the bedroom — know what he or she is watching. Televisions and computers should be kept in a common area so parents can see what their children are watching. Don’t watch TV during meal times — eating together is an important part of family life. Use meal times to talk about the day's events. Ask your children about their day and tell them about yours. Establish regular viewing times — don't keep the television on all day. There are many educational programs out there, so, used carefully, television doesn’t have to be a meaningless distraction. | 