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Children and television is not merely a question of content â€" it is primarily a parenting concern, says a representative from the Alliance for Children and Television (ACT.) "Television for children and families is often a power struggle and is a parenting issue," explained David Schatzky, a forâ€" mer executive director of ACT, during a speaking engagement at Munn‘s United Church. ACT is a national organization â€" founded in 1974 â€" which advoâ€" cates quality television programs for children, public awareness of the influence of television on chilâ€" dren, and encourages the positive use of the medium by children and parents. He would not recommend to his audience an appropriate averâ€" age viewing time, but advised parâ€" ents "to look at how television fits into the child‘s general diet of life" and work out a balance. Parental involvement is a must By CHERYL ELLIOT Special to the Oakville Beaver Schatzky â€" who has 20 years broadcasting experience on CBC Radio â€" said the national average of television viewing for Canadian children is between 18 and 23 hours per week. Children get mixed messages from parents about television Buy your tickets NOW for The Tommy Hunter Show 8 p.m., Saturday, June 26, 1993 Park Bible Church Burlington Tickets: $25 each (Lots of free parking) Tiiiti E) Presented by CHAM Supported by oping as a family with today‘s television Order by phone. Call 336â€"1158 "PORTFOLLLIO "But one of the worst aspects of television," he added, ‘"is for the child to sit there, totally in isoâ€" lation, having a relationship with a mechanical apparatus as oppose to being with a human being." "A lot of news content just reinforces the idea that the world is an unsafe, unreliable place." "During the Gulf War, some children were traumatized,". he said. "They couldn‘t understand that it wasn‘t going to affect us here and were very scared." "When it is convenient for a parent, the television is wonderâ€" ful, but when it is inconvenient for a parent, the television is a terâ€" rible thing," he said. Schatzky advises parents to watch television with children "as much as you can stand" and to discuss positive and negative aspects of shows. "If kids see honest reactions to things on television from us," he said, "they tend to absorb our valâ€" 3» ues. Total Isolation Watching television with your children can be also a bonding activity especially if you are sitâ€" ting together closely, Schatzky said. Schatzky said watching televiâ€" sion news can be problematic for children depending on their age, sensitivities, and interests. Schatzky said. Your ticket stub will also provide you with a free family visit to the { Mountsberg Wildlife Centre \‘>â€" ~Tommy‘s treat!~â€" Tickets available in advance at: . *Notesâ€"â€"The Music Place "On American networks, the limit on advertising in children‘s programs is 12 minutes per hour," said Schatzky. "In Canada, it is eight minutes per hour." CBC carries no advertising for preâ€"school programs, according to Schatzky, and YTV carries no advertising in the morning. His best suggestion for dealing with advertising is to caution a child that if she asks for a product that is advertised on television, the television will be turned off. Schatzky believes television can influence behavior. Violent cartoons, in particular, can encourage violent behavior. "Just because a program is a cartoon," he told the group, "doesn‘t mean it is for kids." Schatzky feels that some shows can "invade a child‘s sense of being a child," and that television is one of the contributing factors to children growing up too fast. "*You have the right to move in and control it," he told the group. He considers ‘Sesame Street‘, ‘Mr. Rogers‘, ‘Reading Rainbow‘, and ‘Polka Dot Door‘ to be still good television fare for younger children. He also likes the new programs ‘Big Comfy Couch‘ and Commercial broadcasters are becoming more sensitive to parental objections to advertising in children‘s programs, but the tactics of advertisers are "pretty disgusting" even though there are strict guidelines, Schatzky pointed out. For older children, he prefers ‘Ghost Writer‘ and ‘Where in the World is Carmen Santiago‘, and says that the popular show ‘Full ‘Barney and Friends‘. David Schatzky: television viewing a power struggle. FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1993 PAGE 10 The meeting at which Schatzky appeared was sponsored by the Ladies Friendship Group of Munn‘s United Church. House‘ is suitable. For further information please call 845â€"3824 and ask for The Oalcille Beaver Infoâ€"Source division. CA 1 845â€"5585 (Photo by Rizero Vertolli)