2010 Spring Turn-off Week April 19-25

[TerryS]

2010 Spring Turn-off Week April 19-25

According to the latest Kaiser study (released Jan 2010)

http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/8010.pdf

Children 8-18 are spending, on average:

(From Page 2)

4:29 hours per day watching TV
4:54 hours per day watching TV/movies
7:38 hours per day plugged into media (TV, movies, music, computer, video games, print)

These statistics mind-boggling, 7:37 hours
plugged into media, of which almost 5 hours per
day are spent watching TV/movies. Children are being
systematically turned into addicts.

And are you addicted? One way to find out is to take
a one week break. If you find it impossible, then you'll
have your answer. Even one week of media reduction is
an important step forward.

For some inspiration read "Readers Respond: Is Turnoff
Week A Good Idea or Is It Nobody's Business But Yours?"

http://childrensbooks.about.com/u/ua/fo ... tm?from=lb

Not sure what to do? For some great inspiration:

http://www.insteadoftv.com/

http://unplugyourkids.com/

As with every year, this event is being sponsored by
The Center for Screen-Time Awareness.

http://www.screentime.org

Unfortunately, because of the economic crisis they
have had their budget splashed massively with
consequently a huge reduction in activities.

If you would like to make a donation to support this
very important endeavor, please write a check to:

Center for SCREEN-TIME Awareness
and send it to: PO Box 312
South Salem, NY 10590


Not sure if this is important or not? Read
"Playtime Is Over" by Dr. By DAVID ELKIND,
a sobering piece on the effects of lots and lots
of media and little play on kids today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/27/opinion/27elkind.html

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[TerryS]

The End of Childhood

Update: here's an excellent article in Adbusters,
The End of Childhood: Children who spend more time
inside than in the wilderness experience poorer health
in adulthood. We must let them roam free.

https://www.adbusters.org/magazine/78/e ... dhood.html

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