Today marks the start of Turnoff Week, an annual international initiative that advocates we all turn off our TVs and other media gadgets (including *ahem* computers and the internet) for one week in order to remind ourselves of the importance of connecting with ourselves and our loved ones. Will your family be turning off?
Why turn off? According to the Center for Screen-Time Awareness, one of the proponents of Turnoff Week:
- Screen time cuts into family time and is a leading cause of obesity in both adults and children.
- The average daily usage for all screens, in some countries, has reached 9 hours per day (not including 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.
But is turning off for a mere week effective? Well, anecdotal evidence from people who responded to follow-up surveys after previous Turnoff Weeks suggests that the majority of people who turned off for a week continued to reduce their screen time.
Is excessive screen time an issue in your home? And how would you define "excessive"? Have you ever thought about trimming your TV/web media diet? Would you consider pulling the plug on your media gadgets for a week?
(Image: Flickr member {N}Duran, licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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We watch very little tv, and when we do, it's very controlled (ie, DVDs of our favorite shows) and on our own schedule. That's half the battle, I think. We watch it when we're able to and not busy with something else. We won't be completely unplugging this week, but since the weather is finally getting nicer, will be going out more than usual.
As far computers and other media, they're staying on. I'm too addicted!
one of the very best decisions we ever made was cancelling tv when our oldest was just born. we found we stayed up later than normal, lying on separate couches, flipping channels because nothing good was on. we still have a tv, but just one and we don't receive channels on it at all. the lack of commercials is one of the biggest advantages, especially now that we have five kids! we don't have a computer, either, so that's nipped in the bud. we use our phones for internet, which is nice, as it's limited in its functions and isn't comfortable to use for a long period of time. we do allow preselected dvd's, but rarely and with intent. we've noticed a great difference in play between our kids and our two nieces (from two different families) who are allowed copious amounts of television time and have been since birth.
rather than focus on tuning out, which we feel good about having near-perfected, we're spending this week making a conscious effort to celebrate the earth by getting outside and being productive there.
No. We are certainly not! My kids watch just a little TV- so I can get stuff done! We have family time, and then mommy has work time! And if anyone tries to take me off the internet- there will be trouble. While I can see why this could be beneficial for families who are crazy with the TV, video games, etc. It's just not the case for us. I am fine with how much my kids watch TV. Besides, if you feel like your family should do those things less, just do it!
we have been turned off for a long time. we dont have cable and only watch movies rarely with our kids. i do think it is important for them to see some enriching movies but we try to have their visual stimulus come from getting out and seeing the world around them! we have a lot of time as a family and get a lot done being turned off:) here is a pic of my kids creating visually which is what they normally do since they dont have the opportunity to just visually consume... lots of legos, painting, coloring, building and such goes on in our house
http://lovelybud.typepad.com/lovely-bud/2010/03/a-perfect-moment.html
Neither our toddler or our baby watch any tv and I don't think we'll be starting soon. I've noticed a huge difference in the play and attention span of my nieces and nephews based on how much tv they watch. I also hate the systmatic branding and product brainwashing the tv washers exhibit.
I had a long tv-free period (more than ten years) before I got married. As newlyweds we watched a lot and I became a much less cool person. We went out less, did fewer interesting things, cooked less, and read less. I am too busy too watch tv these days but I don't miss it.
Having a toddler at home, who doesn't watch t.v., has by necessity made our television viewing much less. When we get home from work/daycare, it's dinner, playtime, bathing, reading books, etc. until 8:00 when my son goes to sleep. My husband and I go to bed around 10:00, so there is maximum two hours to watch t.v. In reality, those two hours are further interrupted by chores, laundry, phone calls, etc. so at most we are watching 1 hour per evening, and always on PVR/DVD (so no commercials).
I do sometimes wish that I didn't even spend that hour on t.v. It's a little challenging, because other activities that I might enjoy (crafts, reading) wouldn't include my husband, and we do enjoy that time cuddling and reconnecting.
Love the idea, but these black-and-white, all-or-nothing exercises are not effective. (Same goes with diets). I'm better off with a constant reminder. Rather than take a full week without tv/computer/etc, I'd rather live every week by this motto: everything in moderation, all the time. I try to do 2 nights a week w/out tv. I block out chunks of time each day when I don't check email. I have cut out cable and do only netflix (which makes my watching much more mindful, deliberate). It helps to make it part of my weekly routine.
We don't watch television. Sometimes we watch the movie previews on our imac and have started to introduce full length movies to our 3 year old. Obviously, we don't plan on turning off our computer. Unlike my opinion of tv, there is useful information on here!
i'm really glad you posted about this, and i'm really glad this initiative is still celebrated so many years after it started.
we do not have cable, but my kids usually watch 1-2 movies a day. i know it seems like so much, and it probably really is, but bc my husband and i come from film backgrounds, we justify it a bit.
i will definitely take this week off and spend more time playing games. i believe the exercise really is helpful, it's a gentle reminder and poke in the right direction.
ps - it's not about perfection, it's about awareness :)
i haven't owned a tv in a long time so no problem there.
as far as computer...since all of my family is out of state i pretty much live for the daily blog/facebook posts we share that keep me in touch with their daily lives! (today, i got to see a photo of my 1 yr old neice eden's case of 'bed-head' after her nap - adorable!) I would miss out on a lot without modern technology. :)
but i totally agree about cutting out media that serve only a 'single direction' entertainment function.
As my husband worked for a while in a TV network, we watch TOO MUCH television. But once a week, mostly as our own family's nod to decreasing energy output, we do "low-energy-night". So once a week we sit down, one room only, one set of lights only, no computers or TV allowed, and do stuff. Read, talk etc. It's really rather lovely!