April 25-May 1 is National TV Turnoff Week. You may wonder why we need a screen-free week. Here's why:
> On average, US children spend more time in front of the television (1,023 hours) than in school (900 hours).
> On average, parents spend only 38.5 minutes per week in meaningful conversation with their children.
> 91 percent of children feel 'upset' or 'scared' by the violence they see on TV.
> Watching 21 hours or more of TV each week doubles your risk of type 2 diabetes.
> Only 36 percent of 4-6 year olds in homes where the TV is always or usually on can read. 56 percent of other 4-6 year olds can read.
Get more facts here. If you are one of the 49 percent of Americans who say they watch too much TV, prepare to enjoy a TV free week. You can:
* Read.
* Teach someone else to read.
* Call or visit a grandparent or elderly person.
* Go hiking.
* Volunteer.
* Garden.
* Write a letter.
* Study a foreign language.
* Give blood.
Here are a few more ideas about what to do with your screen-free time. Feel free to list your suggestions in the comments. For more ways to control your TV, check out the January 13th post. Have a great TV-free week!
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8 comments:
Here are some great quotes about TV:
* I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book. - Groucho Marx
* TV is the single most significant factor contributing to violence in America. - Ted Turner
* The remarkable thing about television is that it permits several million people to laugh at the same joke and still feel lonely. - T.S. Eliot
During your TV-free time, you could learn more about world events. So little of that is covered on US TV anyway. For starters, check out this week's post from the Coalition for Darfur.
Excellent idea Karama, I'm going to steal your post and re-blog it to share with others.
Be my guest, Paul. I'm glad you like the post and appreciate your efforts to spread the word. Thanks! I hope you enjoyed your visit to 'So what can I do.' Please come again soon!
I don't have any kids, so I assume it's ok for me to be glued to the tube & my PS2.
It's your life, JezChill, and you're grown. So if you're okay with it, it's fine with me.
Thanks for stopping by. Please come again, and spread the word.
Turn off the tv? Get rid of it all together! I threw out the tv 8 years ago or so and it has been the best thing I could have done for myself... It leaves me with ample time to talk, read, go out, meet up with friends, etc. For news there is the internet. You get the news without commercials :)
Josita-
Way to go, Josita! There's very little (if anything) on TV that you can't get elsewhere.
Thanks for stopping by "So what can I do." I hope you enjoyed your visit, Josita, and please come again soon!
Howdy to Chris!
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