A sociological perspective of children's television viewing is provided by this study. Six family groups, with children between the ages of three and six, participated in extensive interviews concerning personal and family viewing habits and attitudes. Researchers subsequently made four visits to the home during regular viewing periods, acting as participant observers in the viewing situation and making notes on behavior and activity in the environment. Based on the symbolic interactionist belief that social dynamics are reflected in action, the study revealed that television viewing is an activity which can be manipulated to serve the aims of the audience members. While some modification of routine resulted as a function of television viewing, the routine was usually the more powerful force, being altered only for special viewing occasions. Children behaved differently according to the social make-up of the viewing situation: viewing with adults followed strict social rules, while viewing with peers or siblings was a less structured activity. Considerably more sophistication in using and understanding television was displayed by children than contemporary literature has indicated as typical. (Author/KS)