The television can be a great tool if used properly. First determine your child's needs. Lets say your child has the following needs;

Improvement in math
Needs to get in better physical shape
Lacks honesty

The TV can be used to help in these areas. The TV is not to be used only for entertainment. Get out videos or find programs that will teach honesty, math and exercise. Then set up a schedule for one or more topics. I would start with one and add others if it looks like it is working. Let us say you start with a math tutoring video. Then you might set up a one hour time to learn math. Say Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. One hour each day. You can repeat the videos to help solidify the info. This now makes the TV a learning tool, not a tool that promotes inactivity only.

When the time comes for entertainment, try to find a video (or program) that promotes:

(1) honesty
(2) the idea that it is important to take care of you body

When your are ready to work on an additional need, set up another time or replace the first (math time) session. You get the idea. For exercise maybe you could exercise along with your child, this could be a good time together.

The television can also be a great motivator tool. For example "You can watch that TV show after your room is cleaned".

Credits: Jeffrey Silla