Screen-Free Week (formerly TV-Turnoff) is an annual event in which parents, children, teachers, and others across the country turn off screen media (television, video games, computers, cell phones, etc.) and celebrate the magic of being unplugged.
The next scheduled Screen-Free Week is April 30 - May 6, 2012. Screen-Free Week is a program of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood.
Why should we limit our children's screen time?
- They could be doing something else such as using their creativity or learning problem solving skills. Open ended play is essential to childhood development. The more children engage with screens, the less time they spend in creative learning.
- To avoid the commercialization of childhood. Young children can't differentiate between commercials and program content. Advertising promotes products, brands, values and behaviours. Children are learning at a young age that you are only happy if you have lots of stuff. Play comes naturally to children yet, as a society, we actually prevent them from playing. Children are less creative when they play with toys that are based on media characters. Their play is limited to re-creating what they have seen on the the t.v. show - they are not using their creativity to it's full potential.
- Media violence violence is at an all time high. Violent programs are being marketed to children and this only leads to children growing up to believe that violence isn't serious and can be a solution to their problems. There is a relationship between watching violent television programming and an increase in violent behaviour by children.
- Movies, television and toy marketing are promoting the sexualization of children for both girls and boys. These images are embedded with harmful messages that suggest self worth is equal to sex appeal. Boys are affected when violence and power are presented as stereotypes to be admired.
- Childhood obesity is at an all time high. This is not breaking news but it seems that families aren't getting the message. Food companies are using licenced t.v.characters to sell sugary, processed and even some healthy food. This coerces children to choose food based on what their favourite character is rather then developing healthy eating habits. In the past 30 years, the obesity rate among children ages 2-5 has nearly tripled to 14%, quadrupled for children ages 6-11 to 19%, and tripled for youth ages 12-19 to 17%. source
- Television
- Movies
- Video games
- Computer
- Ipad
- Cell phone games (A.K.A. apps)
- Work
- Homework
Looking for more?
- The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds
- TV and Children
- Live outside the box: Everything is more fun when it's real!
- Kids and Screens
- Screen Free promotional video
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