Steer your child away from TV shows with sexual content

Young people who watch TV shows that feature people talking about sex may be more tempted to try sex themselves. So says a study published early this school year.

The study showed that children who watch television programs with sexual themes may begin sexual activity at an earlier age.

Parents should get involved. The study recommends that you:

• Keep the TV in family areas, not in your child’s bedroom.
• Monitor what your child watches. Do not let him watch shows you find inappropriate.
• Talk with your child about what he watches. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends family discussions of values portrayed in the media. Ask your child whether characters make good or bad choices.

Reprinted with permission from the March 2005 issue of Parents Still make the difference!® (Middle School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2005 The Parent Institute®, a division of NIS, Inc. Source: Rebecca Collins, Ph.D. and others, “Watching Sex on Television Predicts Adolescent Initiation of Sexual Behavior,” Pediatrics, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/114/3/e280.