TV-Turnoff Week
April 19-25, 2010
September 19-25, 2010
From: Center for Screen time Awareness
Why Turn Off?
Screen Time cuts into family time and is a leading cause of obesity in both adults and children. Excessive use of screens for recreational purposes leads to a more sedentary and solitary lifestyle and that is unhealthy for all of us, both mentally and physically.
In the US and other industrialized nations around the world, screen time use continue to increase every year. The average daily usage for all screens, in some countries, has reached 9 hours per day. This is for recreational use of screens and does not include work time.
On average, people watch 4 hours of television and then spend another 4 plus hours with computers, games, video, iPods and cell phones. According to Nielsen, the average World of Warcraft gamer plays for 892 minutes per week! The company that owns Second Life (a virtual world) claims that its users spent over 1 million hours on line. These statistics hold true for children directed sites as well, including Webkinz and others.
Former US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher said at the Kick Off of Turnoff Week 2001, "We are raising the most overweight generation of youngsters in American history...This week is about saving lives."
Who Participates?
Anyone and everyone. Millions of people around the world participate in Turnoff Week. Children and adults, rich and poor - people from every background and all walks of life - take part through schools, churches, or community groups, as families or individuals and even at work.
What's So Great about Turnoff Week?
Turning off the screen gives us time to think, read, create, and do the things we never have time for. This allows us to connect with our families and engage in our communities. We feel good about ourselves as we grow more physicaly and mentally active.
Turnoff Week Works!
According to hundreds of responses to our Turnoff Week follow-up surveys, 90 percent of responding participants reduced their screen time as a result of participating.
Join parents, teachers, pediatricians, families, friends and neighbors by celebrating Turnoff Week 2009: April 20-26 and September 20-26.
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