A dozen tips for parents on TV and kids

Avoid using television as a baby-sitter.

Know what your kids are watching.

Keep televisions out of kids' bedrooms.

Set some guidelines about when and what children watch.

Practice "appointment" TV.

Decide in advance what's good and watch it as a family.

Talk to your children about what they are watching.

Turn the TV off during meals. Use the VCR to your advantage.

Put the family on a TV diet. Create a TV coupon system.

Don't make the TV the focal point of the room.

Patronize good programs and demand more of them.