The first generations raised with television sets are now having children of their own and grandchildren of their own.  And television has a more prominent place in the home than ever before. For many families, the TV gets turned on in the morning, and doesn't get turned off again until bedtime. There are DVD players on sale for around $30 now and a never-ending collection of movies to play whenever you feel the whim. There is little wonder why children are spending plenty of time glued to the screen these days.

Experts have said that during the course of the year, most children will spend around 900 hours in school, but they will spend 1, 023 hours in front of the television. Many daycare centers around the United States use television on a regular basis. Some children's stores even provide a television for young ones to watch while parents are picking out clothing for them.  But experts have set up guidelines that say that children under the age of two should be getting no television time at all. And that includes movies, computer games, or television shows.  Some child advocates say that children of any age should be banned from the television, while others push for television use to be focused on educational themes.

It is important to consider how many hours a day your family spends in front of the TV in comparison to how many hours are used doing other things, such as reading, exercising, or talking to each other. A little TV is fine, but a little TV can also go a long way.  Setting up guidelines and restrictions when it comes to the family television set can not only improve the overall health of your family, but also content of the images that your child is exposed to.