So how can you keep all of this away from your kids? How can you keep them from seeing all of this sex and violence on TV? Well, the easiest way is to simply not have a TV at all. Many families choose not to have a TV, or to not have TV service and to limit their watching activities to nothing but movies. Of course, you still won't be able to control what your kids see when they go to friends' houses, or what they see at school. There are other options that you can take if you want to keep TV service in your home so that you can watch your favorite shows too. There are a number of different TV filters that are available now that will block shows that are above a certain rating, that you set. So if a show's rating reveals that it has violence or sex, or if it's rated above 14, you can block it on your TV. As the parent, you will be able to override the block with the passcode so that you can watch what you would like. A number of services, even your regular digital cable, let you block entire channels, so you can keep MTV or HBO out of your house.

Getting rid of your TV or buying a filter are both good ways to prevent your kids from seeing sex and violence on TV. If they can't get to it, then they can't see it. You can also give them a list of approved channels that they can view. Find which channels show children appropriate programs. And a hint: it might not be the Disney channel. You will have to decide what you feel is right for your children to watch. Of course, this system is not fool proof. As your children get older, they will become curious about all of these different channels that they're not allowed to watch. Keeping tabs on the channels viewed also requires that an adult be home most of the time so that they can monitor their children's viewing activities.

Ultimately, you will not be able to prevent your children from ever seeing any sex or violence on TV. One thing that is important for you to do as a parent is to talk to your kids about the sex and violence on TV. This is important because of the fact that is so prevalent in both sitcoms and also the nightly news. Discuss with them issues of violence, their fears about possible violence. Talk to them about sex and the differences between the behaviors that they see on TV and the values and practices that they should follow in real life. Discuss with them why things are depicted in certain ways, and that what they see on TV is glorified behavior that is not appropriate. Talk to your kids about why this behavior is not appropriate. Your greatest weapon is ultimately education about what is on TV, and why it's bad. Your kids will appreciate your openness, and you will not only be hiding them from what's going on on TV, but you will be arming them to make decisions not to watch that type of show and to choose other activities or more wholesome programming instead.