Turn Off Your TV Week: A Challenge to Families to Spend Time Without TelevisionTurn Off Your TV Week
Editor's Choice A Challenge to Families to Spend Time Without Television
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Turn Off Your TV Week is a semi-annual event emphasizing the importance of spending time away from television media.
People of all ages watch television daily. The media has become so much a part of modern living, that in many homes it may be on at all hours of the day and night. Turn Off Your TV Week, also known as TV Turn Off Week, is an attempt to make the public aware of the importance of moderating television viewing.
How Much Television Should Children View?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, two hours daily should be the upper limit for children’s television viewing. The Department of Education concurs. In a report on the television viewing habits of 4th graders, 36% watched 1-2 hours a day, while 18% watched 6 or more hours.
Some parents may feel that the television should be left off during the week so children can complete homework and extracurricular activities. Participating in TV Turn Off Week can help set the habit for less television viewing.
Turn Off the T.V. Week
Each year, dates are set for this national event. The dates for 2009 are April 20-26 and September 20-26. The dates for 2010 are April 19-25 and September 19-25. More dates can be found at the TV Turn Off website. This event is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Education Association, and the American Medical Association.
TV Turn Off reports what activities are happening by state. As events and activities are planned in schools, libraries, and communities, they are listed on the website. People are encouraged to get involved and spread the word.
Ideas for Reducing Television Viewing
Ideas for cutting the amount of television watched are as varied as there are families. Here are a few basic ideas.
* Keep a T.V. viewing log to track how many hours are actually spent in front of the television.
* Have a regular family game night each week with no television.
* Turn off the T.V. during meals and have a conversation.
* Don’t turn on the T.V. until all homework and chores have been finished.
* Get outside and go for a walk or bike ride instead of watching a television show.
* At the end of a television show, turn off the T.V. and do something else.
* Don’t substitute the computer for the television viewing, rather choose an activity that involves other members of the family.
Bringing Families Together
By turning off the television, families are making a statement. They are saying that communication with one another is important. They are saying that time spent together in other activities is important. They are making a decision to not let television media run their lives, but rather to use television as a tool.
TV Turn Off Week can be a first step in awareness of how television viewing can affect children and adults. Participating in the activities can bring positive changes to a family.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress
Read more at Suite101: Turn Off Your TV Week: A Challenge to Families to Spend Time Without Television http://medialiteracy.suite101.com/article.cfm/turn_off_your_tv_week#ixzz0lZueANtG
Quick facts:
Some facts to blow your mind- (From Kill Your Television)
* Number of 30-second commercials seen in a year by an average child: 20,000
* Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 38.5
* Number of minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680
* Percentage of children ages 6-17 who have TV’s in their bedrooms: 50
* Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical day: 70
* Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours
* Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500
* Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television while eating dinner: 66
SOME ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
1. Volunteer in a school to teach reading, math, computer skills.
2. Learn to play the guitar or other musical instrument.
3. Attend community concerts.
4. Organize a community clean-up.
5. Put together a puzzle.
6. Visit the library. Borrow a book. Attend library activities.
7. Go ice skating or roller skating.
8. Listen to the radio.
9. Visit the zoo.
10. Paint a picture, a mural or a room.
11. Attend a high school sporting event.
12. Find out about your area's community center or park's activities.
13. Go swimming. Join a community swim team.
14. Read a book aloud to your younger sister/brother.
15. Plan a picnic or barbecue.
16. Go bird watching.
17. Volunteer for a community organization or charity.
18. Play with your pet.
19. Go dancing.
20. Write a letter to a friend or relative.
21. Learn to cook.
22. Plant a flower, vegetable or herb garden.
23. Read magazines or newspapers.
24. Plan a slumber party.
25. Start a neighborhood basketball, soccer, or kickball game.
26. Go camping (even if it's just in the backyard!).
27. Join a choir.
28. Go through your closets and clothes. Donate surplus items to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or a local rummage sale.
29. Start a diary/journal.
30. Go to a museum.
31. Take a nature hike. Collect seeds and leaves. Make a collage with the materials you collected and post it on the refrigerator.
32. Play cards.
33. Start a community exercise group that power walks, runs, or bikes.
34. Read a story to your younger brother or sister.
35. Get out the family photo album. Research your family history.
36. Go listen to a local band.
37. Make crafts to give as gifts.
38. Make up a story and write it down.
39. Learn to say simple phrases in a few different languages.
40. Ask an older family member to tell you a story about his or her childhood. Write about it.
41. Learn some new riddles or jokes.
42. Bake two batches of cookies; one for your family and one for a neighbor.
43. Watch the night sky through binoculars; identify the different constellations. Observe the moon.
44. Visit a local bookstore.
45. Go to a movie with your family or friends.
46. Walk to work or school.
47. Start a kids bowling league.
48. Train for a 5K race.
49. Teach a neighbor about a computer program.
50. Go fishing.
51. Begin a family project.
52. HAVE A PARTY TO CELEBRATE A TV-FREE WEEK.
