Unplugged!
April 1st, 2009 by Candice BaxterAs a single mom, Julia Smith knows sitting her children in front of the television would make life easier, but she’s not looking for easy. Instead, the TV and video games are turned off on weekdays. For fun, her 8-year-old daughter Jai’Eria participates in after-school activities at Girls Inc., and 14-year-old son Juelian plays basketball. At home, the kids pitch in to cook dinner. “It takes longer, it’s messy, and one batch of fried chicken will get burned, but they’re learning how to do something valuable,” says Smith, a systems analyst at Medronics.
She’s lucky, her kids likely won’t struggle during National Turnoff Week.
This grassroots project, developed by the Center for Screen Time Awareness (CSTA), challenges families to forgo leisure screen time activities for one week. That means switching off televisions, computers, and video games for the week of April 20th to 26th.
Banning electronics might sound like punishment to the kids, but the point is not to ground your family. Rather, the week should be about focusing on relationships and doing activities you generally don’t have time for.
In essence, it’s about living life instead of watching it.
“Children learn by building knowledge on their own, not by having information handed to them,” says Josie Orlando, director of Lindenwood Christian Church Childcare. “Even TV shows with an educational base don’t allow kids to physically explore and manipulate things.”
Why kids need playtime
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s latest study, 80 percent of children under age 6 watch an average of two hours of television per day. Too much time in front of the screen thrusts kids into a sedentary, solitary lifestyle. Lack of exercise has contributed to the highest rate of childhood obesity in American history. Claire Learner, director of parenting relations at Zero to Three says, “Even scary shows or news in the background are still absorbed. Children get distracted from play.”
Turnoff Week presents an opportunity for seven days of play — without distraction. Over 100 national organizations participate annually, along with thousands of local community-based efforts in schools, churches, and businesses. The key to a successful Turnoff is to get everyone involved in the planning. Ask your class, church, co-workers, or neighbors to turn off with you. Include your kids when planning activities so they feel part of the effort instead of later whining, “There’s nothing to do.”
Just say no
When the week comes, have a ceremonial bagging of the remote controls so nobody reaches for one out of habit and be sure to unplug all screens. Even when a television is turned off, it still uses an average of five watts of power; by unplugging, you’ll save money on your electric bill.
Then, pull out board games, books, jigsaw puzzles, and cards instead. Remember, spending time together doesn’t have to mean spending money. Build a fort, have a water balloon fight, bake cookies, or play ball. Plant flowers in the back yard, wrestle in the play room, or help your kid set up that lemonade stand you’ve been promising.
Smith finds plenty of things to do with her kids.“Sometimes we window shop at places we wouldn’t usually go: the motorcycle shop or hobby stores,” she says. Ultimately, it’s just that time spent together. Whatever it is, join the effort this month: Turn off, unplug, and get out there.
Fun Activities for National Turnoff Week
Monday, April 20
• Memphis Botanic Gardens. Teen Art Garden Program, digital photography 101. 4-6 p.m.
Tuesday, April 21
• Pink Palace Scoop on Poop Exhibit. 9-5 p.m., free after 1 p.m. The Clyde Park Circus Parade is up and running.
• Davis Kidd Story Time: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 11 a.m. For tots ages 2-5.
Wednesday, April 22
• Tot and Trikes at Funquest Stating Center, Collierville. 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $2, $5 w/lunch.
• Wolf River Nature Area Greenway Hike. 4 p.m. Free. Register by April 15. Guided trail hike. Contact: 757-7375
Thursday, April 23
• Kids Cabaret at Harrell Performing Arts Theater. 8 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 & 8 p.m., Sunday, 2:30 p.m. $15/adults, $12/ages 5+
• Redbirds home game, Autozone Park. 7:05
Friday, April 24
• 5K 4 Kids by Nike. Bert Ferguson Community Center, Cordova. Registration at 5 p.m. Race at 6:30 p.m.
• High School Musical II. Presented by De Soto Civic Center. Runs April 17-26. 2 & 7 p.m. $14-22.
Saturday, April 25
• EarthFest at Lichterman Nature Center
• My Own Fishermen. At Johnson Road Park in Germantown. 9-11 a.m. For ages 5+. Free. Register by April 18, call 757-7376.