TV Turnoff Week 2008 April 21th – 27th January 30, 2008

My husband and I spent the past two weeks in Cabo San Lucas. I’d like to think that we took Adbusters “Slow Down Week” literally but it was coincidental timing. However, while there we had limited access to computers, 10 minutes at the most on any given day. For me, that was significant weening from electronica. The amount of my reading and writing went up more than just a little. There was also plenty of time for talking, swimming, people-watching, playing games, sight-seeing and leisurely meals. Funny how that works inversely to access to television and computers.

A peek at our television watching habits is startling:

• The total average time a household had a TV set tuned during the 2006-2007 television year was 8 hours and 14 minutes per day. source: Neilsen Media
• The average American watched 4 hours and 34 minutes of television each day during the 2006-2007 television year. source: Neilsen Media
• On average, children in the US will spend more time in front of the television (1,500 hours) than in school this year (900 hours). source California State University, Northridge
• Sixty-six percent of Americans regularly watch television during dinner. source: California State University, Northridge
• Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children: 3.5. source California State University, Northridge

Great. Research says we’re fatter, dumber, more stressed, and more prone to aggression as a result of watching television. Some would say watching television is an addiction. What can you do about it? Hide the remote and check out Screentime.org’s Turnoff Week.

“The Center for SCREEN-TIME Awareness works to raise public awareness on the negative impact of excessive “screen-time.” By working with the media, distributing fact sheets, and communicating directly with the public, CSTA continues to shift the debate from concerns about content toward an understanding that time away from screens leads to healthier bodies and minds. For most of us “doing” will always be more rewarding than “viewing.”

Turnoff Week is a time for people to look at their relationship with the screen, how it impacts them and their family and all the things they could be doing, leading to more functional, healthy lifestyles.

For more information  is a complete guide to a TV-free lifestyle. If you need a financial incentive, check out TheSimpleDollar’s Ten Financial Reasons To Turn Off Your Television – And Ten Things To Replace It With.

Related Posts:

• Slow Down Week January 13-19, 2008 
• Go Outside and Play! 

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