NEW YORK -- Children's television is studded with violence, much of it darker and more realistic than when Road Runner dropped an anvil on Wile E. Coyote's head, a watchdog group reported.
The Parents Television Council analyzed 444 hours of kids' daytime programs last summer and detailed 2,794 violent incidents, even after sifting out "cartoony" moments. That's 6.3 incidents per hour -- more than the PTC found in prime time aimed at adults during a 2002 study.
Programs like "Teen Titans" on Time Warner Inc.'s Cartoon Network and ABC Family Channel's "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" often feature intense fights with swords, guns and lasers, the group said.
There's nothing wrong with fanciful, fantasy violence, said Brent Bozell, PTC founder. "I grew up with 'Tom and Jerry' and I think I'm OK," he said.
"Popeye beat up Bluto and you cheered," he said. "That was perfectly fine. Now, the protagonists will be caught in dark, powerful, oftentimes scary scenarios where there is hard violence."
Violent cartoons can increase children's anxiety, desensitize them or lead them to believe that violence is more prevalent -- and acceptable -- in real life than it really is, said Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Center of Media and Children's Health at Harvard University's medical school.
The PTC cited the Cartoon Network as having the most violent incidents. The watchdog group also criticized the ABC Family Channel while praising the Disney Channel as the least violent network; both are owned by the Walt Disney Co.
Fox, and General Electric Co.'s NBC, with more live-action children's shows, scored low on the violence meter.
TiVo offers screening service for parents
TiVo Inc., the pioneer of digital-video recorders, will introduce a service to help parents choose programs that are pre-screened as appropriate for children.
The service, which will be available in June, relies on recommendations from two family-focused organizations, Common Sense Media and the Parents Television Council, TiVo Chief Executive Officer Thomas Rogers says. Parents can choose from a menu of shows approved by each group.
The free feature from TiVo underscores the pressure from the Federal Communications Commission for the television industry to provide better screening options. The KidZone service may persuade consumers to pick TiVo over other digital-video recorders which don't offer such screening, Rogers said.
With TiVo's service, consumers can limit children's viewing to a selection of programs pre-approved by Common Sense Media and Parents Television Council. Parents can switch off the service to watch their own shows.
KidZone is an alternative to the V-chip in many television sets, which use TV industry ratings to screen programming for children. The V-chip doesn't allow parents to actively choose the best children's TV shows for their kids, TiVo said.
Families Forever Seminar scheduled
A Families Forever seminar is being offered by Lifesteps and Family Services of Butler Memorial Hospital. The seminar is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. March 15 at Family First Resource Center, 216 N. Washington St., Butler.
Families Forever will teach parents how to minimize the negative effects on children involved in divorce and/or custody situations, while allowing children a safe environment to share feelings with other children who also are experiencing a divorce or separation from a loved one.
The parent's group will focus on the short and long-term effects of divorce on children, behaviors children might exhibit and how to deal with these behaviors, how children can maintain relationships with their parents, and community resources that are available.
The children's group, for grades one through six, will offer an opportunity to identify and explore their feelings through activities that are targeted to bring out concerns and encourage sharing with peers.
Fee is $50 for adults and free for children. Free child care is available for immediate siblings 6 weeks old through age 5. To register, call Lifesteps at 724-283-1010.
