This week is officially TV Turn-Off Week. If you love televison, you just might not want to read today's post, because I don't find much about TV watching that's very beneficial. There are lots of educators and physicians who agree.

The average U.S. household has the television on more than 7 hours a day; almost 50 hours a week! In contrast, what's the average amount of time per day that a child 6 or under will read or be read to? 41 minutes. TV Turnoff Network tells us: "On average, children in the US will spend more time in front of the television (1,023 hours) than in school this year (900 hours)."

My personal opinion is that TV slowly destroys the desire to read. It has a numbing effect because it requires no interaction, no activity, no imagination, and no communication; yet at the same time it demands our attention. It replaces people. You can't plan, strategize or fulfill responsibilities while watching tv. TV robs families of basic communication. It can create an environment of laziness. Have you ever really thought about the strangeness of this habit -- sitting in front of a box, escaping from your real life by living thru others' experiences, all the while exposing yourself to violence, sexual innuendo and more? You'd never invite someone into your home to do these things, yet daily we invite TV to affect us this way. Not a very pretty picture.

Then there are the physical implications:
US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher said at the Kick Off of TV-Turnoff Week 2001, "We are raising the most overweight generation of youngsters in American history...This week is about saving lives."

Look at this article by Sherrie Le Masurier, co-owner of Family Sanity Savers, a site offering smart solutions for busy parents:

"Research shows children who consistently spend more than ten hours per week watching TV are more likely to be overweight. Okay, so maybe you don’t have an overweight child, but consider the fact that most children get a great deal of information about health from television. Much of this comes in the form of an ad. Typically, ads don’t give true or balanced views about healthy lifestyles and food choices. Many TV ads encourage unhealthy eating habits. Two-thirds of the 20,000 TV ads the average child sees in a given year are for food and in particular, foods with high-sugar counts.
And just think of how television shows, even educational, non-commercial ones, replace physical activity in your child’s life. TV-viewing takes away from participating in sports, music, art and other activities. Regular viewing encourages a sedentary lifestyle which in turn, can lead to poor physical fitness down the road. Further it decreases time spent in social interactions with family and peers.
Research also suggests that television viewing may be associated with decreased attention spans in children. A recent study from Dimitri Christakis, a researcher at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, indicates that pre-school aged children who watch television face increased risks of attention deficit problems by the time they reach school age. The study was published in the April 2005 issue of Pediatrics:
'For many years, teachers and doctors have told us that, in their experience, many of the children who have the most difficulty focusing and paying attention are also the heaviest TV-watchers. This study provides scientific data confirming their belief, says TV-Turnoff Network Executive Director Frank Vespe. The network sponsors TV Turn Off Week which is held each year at the end of April. In 2006, families are encouraged to turn their televisions off April 24 to 30th. This report underscores that the early years of a child's life are absolutely crucial to the development of a healthy brain. It makes clear that each hour of daily television-viewing in very young children is associated with a 10 percent increase in their risk of suffering attention deficit problems.'
TV also influences children’s attitudes toward themselves and others. After seeing the stereotypes represented on television over and over, children begin to take them at face value."

So, what are YOU going to do about it? This week is the perfect time to start. When we've had TV free weeks at our house, we rediscovered the excitement and fun of reading and lots of other activities. We talked more, lingered at the dinner table longer to talk, and spent more time outside or simply relaxing. You could start by choosing a good book or two to read with your kids this week. Usborne has hundreds of them! Peter Usborne specifically created his books to grab a child's attention and wrestle them away from the lure of televison. Happy Reading ... and enjoy real life this week! I hope it will be the beginning of a permanent change in your home.

If you want to know more about TV and kicking the habit, here are a few good books (for both you and your children) on this topic:

Alternatives to TV Handbook

Unclutter Your Life: Transforming Your Physical, Mental and Emotional Space

52 Alternatives to TV

The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV