THE more television you watch, the lower your literacy level is likely to be, according to the results of the Adult Literacy Survey released by the Department of Statistics this week.

And there is a lesson in that for all parents to bear in mind when they set the domestic rules for their children's formative years, says Cultural Affairs and Sport Minister Dale Butler.

The Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey showed a marked increase in the "risk" of literacy and numeracy difficulties in those who watched five or more hours of television per day, compared to those who watched up to two hours.

Mr. Butler, a former school principal who remains passionate about education, said it would be an impossible task to persuade people to turn off their television sets. But parents with young children could do them a favour by encouraging them to take their eyes off the box and read something instead.

"Telling people to turn off the TV sounds great but it's not going to happen, because watching television is a pleasurable and relaxing pastime and it's even seen as a baby-sitting tool," Mr. Butler said.

"What we can do is encourage more people to get stuck into a good book and read as an alternative way to relax."

He advised parents to limit their children's exposure to television for the sake of their futures and not to leave it too late.

"You have to start young, it's impossible to start it when they get to 12," Mr. Butler said.

"As a father I would limit my children to the news and one favourite programme during the week and whatever they wanted at weekends. It was not our philosophy to have television as part of our family activity.

"You have to think of the long-term benefits. If they are reading instead of watching TV, they will reap the rewards later on."

Parents should make plans to avoid television domination of their children's lives and encourage them to do more productive things to stay occupied, whether it be reading books or interactive activities on the computer.

"The world is not fair," Mr. Butler said. "If you can't read, you can't be a doctor.

"The world doesn't judge you by how low you wear your pants, or how nice your name is, or how wonderful your haircut is. We can give them all those nice things but that is not how they will be judged in the world.

"No one is going to hire people based on how many earrings they have. That is not how the world sets its standards."

The ALL survey showed that, of those surveyed who watched up to two hours' TV per day, 31 per cent were "at risk" of prose literacy problems, compared to 59 per cent of those who watched five or more hours. The difference was even more stark for numeracy ? 45 per cent compared to 77 per cent.