ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses current research on the children and television and considers its implications for families. It uses Goffman's theory as a means of linking together and drawing out the implications of recent research for the roles played by television and by families in socialization. While parents can have a great impact on their children's learning from television, research indicates that few parents become involved in or actively exercise control over their children's consumption, interpretation, and use of television information. In the discussion of the development of framing skills and television use, the chapter also focuses on findings from research based on three closely related theories: information-processing theory, Piaget's theory of cognitive and social development, and social learning theory. Families that provide frequent opportunities for children to experiment with interpreting and structuring action permit children to develop frames, which in turn structure their use of television.
