Are you turning off your TV this week?
Today marks the beginning of National Turnoff Week, sponsored by the Center for Screen Time Awareness. The campaign is in its 14th year, and encourages families to spend less time in front of televisions, computers and video games.
This web site is trying to sell you a tv-turnoff kit, but it also has some free printable tools, such as an activity planning chart, that could help children get into the spirit of a project they may initially oppose. It might be more fun, though, to have them design their own charts detailing what they will do instead of watching.
Here's a U.S. government page with more information and ideas about Turnoff Week. I have to say I thought it was interesting that the page includes two videos of Acting U.S. Surgeon General Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson talking about the importance of reducing screen time. The fact that they'd use videos to spread the word about turning off the screen tells you just what a challenge this effort is, for both kids and adults. (Then again, we're talking about this on a blog.)
How are you responding in your house?
(Associated Press photo, 2006)
Baltimoresun.com's 
Comments
We are, and in fact, I got the dates mixed up and thought it was last week. So it was good practice for the real thing.
We watch very little TV as it is (don't even have cable) so this week is more about using the computer less and spending more quality time with my kids.
Posted by: Kayris | April 21, 2008 3:30 PM
We don't watch TV here (just an occasional video); so maybe I should turn mine on this week and see what I've been missing. Just to be contrary, and all...
Posted by: suburbancorrespondent | April 21, 2008 4:23 PM
So even though it's "National TV Turnoff Week", it should probably be National Screen Turnoff Week. According to Michael Brody (Monday Consult, March 17) screen time is screen time, regardless if it is television or computers.
Many of us do not watch all that much television, if at all, but have we simply replaced it with computer time? That would be the case at our house. We don't have cable, don't really watch tv, but the computer is always on and in the kitchen (the "heart" of the home).
Posted by: Annelies | April 22, 2008 7:35 AM
Wow! I can't believe there are others out there without cable, too. I thought my house was the only one! For us it is more the cost than anything else. I don't have the $$$ to spend on cable each month.
I do have to say that we are guilty of replacing the TV with the computer, though.
Posted by: CKisMom | April 22, 2008 11:48 AM
I am SO THRILLED to read that others don't have cable. People sometimes get really weird when they hear we don't have it. Like I said we don;t have indoor plumbing or something. Even if I was willing to spend the money on it, I don't know that we would have it. Most kids programming gets on my nerves and everything on VH1 is total crap.
Posted by: Kayris | April 22, 2008 1:49 PM
All, but particularly Kayris:
I have to snicker: Right now, we have cable, but NO INDOOR PLUMBING (renovating the bathroom in an old farmhouse with toddlers--what fun!)
I don't think all things with screens are inherently evil (and I need them in my line of work/for sanity), but agree that mindfulness, moderation and maturity are key:)
And maybe if more people did the math on the electricity-sucking screens do, they would keep them off more than on.
Sigh: people are often more motivated by the bottom line of the BGE bill than their kids' brains, but...
I didn't check out the website you mentioned yet Kate, but um, isn't a "TV Turn-off Kit" politely called an index finger?
Posted by: HappyHoarfrost | April 23, 2008 6:03 PM