Turn OFF The TV. Turn ON Life.
Here are some alternatives to watching TV and playing video games.- Take the dog for a walk.
- Go for a bike ride.
- Visit a local park.
- Read a book
- Draw or do an art project
- Learn a craft--crochet, friendship bracelets, wood working.
- Go to the library.
- Help a neighbor.
- Cook dinner together.
- Look at the stars.
- Go skating.
- Plant a garden, even if it’s just a few plants in a pot.
- Unplug and play—have family game nights.
- Invite another family over to play games.
• Time per day the TV is on in average American household: 7 hours, 40 minutes
• Time per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 38.5 minutes
• Percentage of 4-6 year-olds who, when asked, would rather watch TV than spend time with their fathers: 54
• Percentage of children ages 8-16 who have a TV in their bedroom: 56
• Number of TV commercials viewed by American children a year: 40,000
• Number of violent acts the average American child see on TV by age 18: 200,000
Turn Off the TV Week, the 3rd week in April, is a national campaign to encourage people to turn off their TVs, recreational computers and electronic games for seven days. This week is a chance to read, be more physically active, converse, think, create and do, rather than view. By taking a week off from screens, families can evaluate the role that screens play in their lives and reclaim time for family, community and health.
