NO TV!

I happen to be an extremist in this aspect of children rearing.
I personally do not think children should be allowed to watch television. If they do it needs to be educational. Parents should most defiantly be sitting right next to them so they can discuss it after. I have a small TV in my home and we can only watch movies. I did this purposefully so I would not be tempted just to plug my kids in. Young children do not need television they need to exercise their imaginations through concrete experiences.
If your going to allow it, it needs to be parent approved and only for a short while. I would let them maybe watch one show a day. Of course, once children reach a certain age they will want to watch it to fit in with their peers. I would then allow them to pick one show a day to indulge in.
Internet and video games are a whole new story. I don’t allow it now at all but once in middle school they may. I will allow them to play video games that are not violent as long as they have finished their homework and chores. No longer than an hour. The internet is tricky. If my kids want to play an online game they may same rules apply as with video games. They can also do research. But they must always ask to get on and I will probably check the history. If there was a violation they would loose that privilege for as long as I feel necessary.
I am so radical in this area because of what I have previously called the slaughter of the individual. Most children aspire to be like those with fame and I respect very few of them.