Today, parents are struggling to ensure that their children have the education and skills they need to compete and win in the 21st century economy. But children spend more time watching television than any other activity except sleeping--and for many parents that is cause for concern. In fact, children spend 4 times as much time each week watching television as doing homework. Are there educational benefits to this viewing? By the time a child graduates from high school they will have watched 8,000 simulated murders. Should parents expect more? As children watch an average of 25 hours a week of television, is it possible to find a minimum of at least three hours a week of truly educational content? This policy brief explores this issue and gives suggestions on how to limit the amount of time children are watching TV.