Washington, D.C. ? “Don’t touch that dial.”

Significantly more parents are telling that to their children, especially their toddlers, according to Census Bureau data released today.

The report showed that in 2003, about 67 percent of parents put limits on television shows seen by their 3- to 5-year-olds. In 1994, only 54 percent did.

Experts attribute the shift to advanced technology such as the V-chip and Tivo, and reports on some of the negatives associated with too much TV viewing.

While some parents may be clamping down on television, they need to also monitor computer use and video games, said Dave Walsh, president of The National Institute on Media and Family, a research-based organization.

“Kids are leaving television to spend more time on the Internet or playing video games,” Walsh said, adding the latest figures show children from kindergarten through eighth grades are spending close to 44 hours a week in front of a screen.