A recent Gallup poll found that 72 percent of parents said they were “not too worried” or “not at all worried” about their children’s TV viewing habits.

The poll, conducted last October, also found a majority of parents -- 61 percent -- who said they “weren’t too worried” or were “not at all worried” about the content their children watch.

Television exercises a powerful influence on children as they develop. Their perception of reality is greatly shaped by what they see on TV. Parents should pay close attention to what their children watch, and to the values and morals that those TV programs instill in their children.

The survey does not address the reasons why many parents seem at ease with their children’s viewing habits. Is it because they carefully control the amount and the content of the programs their children watch and therefore have no reason for concern? Perhaps, but we fear that is much more rare than we would like to think.

If it’s been a while since you’ve actually sat with your children and watched the shows they do, make some time to do it soon. You may find that you have reason for concern, or maybe not, but you won’t know until you give it a try.