Many parents are vigilant when it comes to monitoring the movies their kids watch and the video games they play. But now that coverage of the war in Iraq has redefined "reality television," how can parents best shield their children from the violent images?

The initial images of the war, while disturbing, were not personal. Early coverage included missiles and explosions in a far-off land, nothing too different from scenes featured in popular war movies. But, as the war intensifies, new reports are a putting names and faces on the American soldiers fighting overseas.

Most experts recommend that elementary school-age children tune in cartoons and tune out war coverage.

Because they do not understand geography, a child may see the explosion of a building that looks familiar and believe that is happening down the block from them.

"Children will develop fears and concerns that are out of proportion with reality," said Professor Betsy McAlister Groves of the Boston Medical Center.

"Kids in the pre-teen years should have their television time limited, and don't let kids watch TV alone.

Shielding older children from graphic war imagery is significantly more difficult, short of locking them in their bedrooms until the end of the war. Still, television should not be the primary way that kids learn about the war, Groves recommends; parents should mediate.

(Agencies)