Most parents would agree that children are exposed to violence in almost every aspect of American society. Now, new research shows that girls are affected by violence just as much as boys.

In a recent study by the University of Michigan, researchers tracked 329 children for 15 years. They found that women who watched a lot of television violence as children were four times as likely as other women to have shoved, punched or beaten someone who made them angry.

Dr. Linda Lewandowski from Children's Hospital of Michigan said that kids who watch children's programming see about 20 to 25 violent episodes per hour. That's more than what we see on prime-time television.

Lewandowski said parents should watch their children's behavior immediately after watching a violent program.

"After young children have watched the 'Power Rangers' show they're more likely to hit their siblings, be aggressive towards their friends, be sort of rebellious towards their parents. If you see some effects like that that's a tip off to you right there that you're seeing some of the imitation and modeling of what they've just seen on the TV," Lewandowski said.

It's also important to watch television with your kids, and talk to them about what they're seeing.

"We can watch the shows with the kids and reflect what we're seeing. We can say things like, 'Wow, that was a really mean thing. That wasn't funny was it? That was a really mean thing to do.' Or we can ask them, 'What else could she have done when she got mad instead of hitting somebody?' "

Helpful Tips

As a parent, it is important for you to know what your child is watching on television.

The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) offers the following tips for helping you to protect your child from exposure to excessive television violence:

Pay attention to the programs and movies your child is watching and watch some with him or her. Play video games with your child to help get a sense of what he or she is seeing and how he or she is reacting to some of these images. Use all of these opportunities as teachable moments to talk about family values regarding violence.

Establish family rules that all video games and movies will be reviewed and approved by you before your child may purchase them.

Consider removing television sets from unsupervised areas in the house, including your child's bedroom.

Point out that although television actors, movie actors or video game characters have not actually been hurt or killed, such violence in real life results in pain or death.

Refuse to let your child see shows or movies known to be violent. You should change the channel or turn off the television set when offensive material comes on television and explain what is wrong with the program.

Tell your child how you feel about violent episodes he or she sees on television or in the movies. Show him or her that you disapprove of the violent images, stressing the belief that such behavior is not the best way to resolve a problem.

To offset peer pressure among friends and classmates, consider contacting other parents and coming to an agreement to enforce similar rules about the length of time and types of television programs and movies children may watch when they are together.

The AACAP also suggests that as a general rule, you should limit the amount of time your child spends watching television or movies and playing video games, regardless of content. Time spent on these activities decrease the time spent on more beneficial activities, such as reading, participating in recreational activities and developing hobbies.

Experts also suggest that if you have serious difficulties setting limits on access to various media sources, or have ongoing concerns about your child's reaction to the violent images they contain, you should contact professionals specializing in child and adolescent psychological issues for consultation and assistance.

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