My kids also like to get up on Saturday morning and watch cartoons. And on Sunday. And Monday… and Tuesday… You know rest. While I had only a couple of channels to choose from, my kids have access to 24 hour children’s programming on several channels, compliments of cable television. If you have a satellite dish, your children have access to even more programming.

More is better, right? Well, not always. With this abundance of television stations, we need to remember that not all television programming is appropriate for all audiences.

There are many parents and grandparents who had viewpoint that if it was a cartoon show kids were watching, it was ok. Cartoon violence? Well, who hasn’t seen that coyote catch an anvil with his head for umpteenth time?

The fact of matter is, when many parents were growing up, with our limited television choices, a little cartoon violence didn’t seem to make too much of a difference. Now our kids can choose to watch cartoon violence 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And it isn’t just anvils dropping out of clear blue sky anymore. What kind of violence exists in cartoons our kids are watching? No, Scooby Doo doesn’t go into a rabid rage and maul Shaggy when there are no more Scooby Snacks. But kid’s shows have battles, fights, explosions and characters making threats to injure or kill each other. And our kids are choosing to watch this programming over and over again.

So how can we help our kids to make better choices? Most families are unwilling to go cold turkey and give up all television programming, although I give KUDOS to those that are brave enough to do it. You’ve heard it before – limit what your kids are watching. But I’d like to add one more piece of advice: teach your children how to choose programs that are acceptable to you and your family’s values. This seems to be piece that is missing from most articles I read today on issue of television viewing and children.

First, start with your “basket”. It doesn’t need to be your typical wicker basket, try using a toy dump truck and fill up bucket, or use a laundry basket, a plastic container or even a purse, depending on occasion and who it’s for.