The 1998 law, known as the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), never took effect. It would have authorized fines up to $50,000 for the crime of placing material that is "harmful to minors" within the easy reach of children on the Internet, according to the Associated Press.

Parents often do not realize the powerful influence and potential damage to children that the electronic media exerts through the Internet, electronic games and television. The court's decision means that only parents may carefully monitor media content accessible to their children.

Recently, the American Pediatric Association began recommending that children under age 2 not watch television at all. Unfortunately, TV remains as an electronic baby sitter in most modern families.

No period of time in the development of a child's mind is more important than the first two to three years of life. Yet, according to numerous studies, children who are allowed to watch TV several hours a day are more likely to be obese, less literate and more deficient in good social skills than those who watch little or no TV.

In February 2004, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report reviewing more than 40 studies on the role of media in the nation's frightening increase in obesity among its children. "The report concludes that the majority of research strongly indicates that children who spend several hours a day watching television are more likely to also be overweight.

"The health implications of childhood obesity are staggering," says Vicky Rideout, Vice President and Director of the Kaiser Family Foundation's Program for the Study of Entertainment Media and Health. "While media is only one of many factors that appear to be affecting childhood obesity, it's an important piece of the puzzle."

Like it or not, what they watch is teaching children their future values. The constant diet of early evening sitcoms featuring young couples engaged in one intimate relationship after another is not the example that prepares children to build good marriages and stable families.

Children need to be encouraged to read, to use their minds. They need to come up with ways of entertaining themselves instead of passively sitting in front of a TV. Learning how to interact with others their own age is valuable preparation for adult life. It gives them the opportunity to learn how to relate to others and become skilled in negotiating their way through difficult social situations and conflicts.

Dr. David Walsh, president and founder of the National Institute on Media and the Family, published a paper, "Seven Building Blocks for School Success." According to him, these building blocks are the key to children becoming good students. They provide opportunities for real human interaction and resourcefulness that television and other electronic media do not.

A key building block is "the ability to pay attention." Explains Dr. Walsh, "Evidence is growing that early TV exposure undermines all the building blocks, and the new study is proof that tuning into the tube at an early age contributes to attention problems and hampers learning."

A nation's future, to a great extent, lies with its youth, with the type of adults they become! Will they be responsible, moral, honest and willing to put the real interests of their neighbors and country ahead of their immediate personal desires? Will they listen to the biblical advice, "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord" (Colossians 3:20).

Parents need to recapture the leadership of their families. A good start would be to minimize the influence of television on their children—and on themselves. Controlling the content of what is watched would be another step in the right direction. Both the lives and future of children greatly benefit from increased parental involvement.

Maybe it's time to rearrange your furniture. Go to each room of your home that has a TV. Notice how the chairs are arranged. Then ask yourself: what does my chair arrangement say about my family priorities?

Has TV been stealing the impact and influence you should have on your children? Or do they receive more time devoted to their guidance from you, their parents, than from the electronic media? Seriously consider the impact of electronic media on your children! They will be the true beneficiaries.