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Participating in Turn off the TV week with young children

Lisa Pederson's photo
Minneapolis Early Childhood Parenting Examiner

Photos of Samuel at the Como Zoo
The Center For Screen-Time Awareness has declared the week of April 20-26 to be Turn Off the TV Week. Now that we know that TV viewing for children under 2 is neither helpful nor harmful, why would we want to participate in the Turn Off the TV Week? Many people who have school age children as well as younger children are going to get requests from the schools to participate for the week. Even if you do not have older children, I believe it is a good idea to give it a try.

I found some interesting facts about TV from turnoffyourtv.com that I would like to share. They really made an impact on me.

TV Facts:

  1. Minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 38.5
  2. Minutes per week that the average child watches television: 1,680
  3. Hours per year the average American youth spends in school: 900 hours
  4. Hours per year the average American youth watches television: 1500

Those are alarming statistics! I believe the habits for TV viewing start at a young age, and parents have the biggest influence on what children spend their time on. We don't have to let these statistics happen in our homes.

This week is a good time to start both the family meal time and the family activity night. Eating together as a family at the table with no distractions is very important to your children, and statistics show that regular eating habits like that show reduced behavior problems and better family communications. Family activity night helps keep the family close and keeps everyone active. It can be as simple as going to the park and playing catch or going out bowling, but being active and being together is very important.

How do get through the week with no TV:

  1. go to the park
  2. take a walk every evening
  3. start geocaching
  4. have a picnic
  5. play ball
  6. go on a nature walk
  7. read books
  8. play board games
  9. go bowling, they have bumpers for toddlers
  10. go to the zoo, the Como Zoo in St. Paul entrance is available for a donation
  11. get messy with art, let someone else clean it up at Kid Create Studio, Eden Prairie

Even if going completely without TV is not an option, adding activities and limiting TV is a good way to get in the habit of watching less and talking with your child more. You will promote better physical health, family togetherness and fun!

 
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, Minneapolis Early Childhood Parenting Examiner

Lisa is a mother to 7 children ranging in age from 2 to 19. A mom blogger and attachment parenting author, Lisa shares her experience while providing local and online places to find care-giving information and products.

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