SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Starting yesterday, dozens of groups across the country began recognition of national “TV Turnoff Week,” an event designed to get kids to turn off the tube and spend more time reading and exercising.
“Families who take part in TV Turnoff Week will probably find it to be an interesting experience, because the fact is, the average American kid spends almost four hours a day watching television,” Common Sense Media CEO James Steyer said. “But while television is a major part of kids’ lives, it’s important to remember that the tube is just one part of a media world that is expanding rapidly. Kids are spending as much time with the Internet, video games, iPods and cell phones as they do with television.”
Dozens of studies have shown that media use is a factor in kids health as they grow up – including obesity rates, sexual activity and violent behavior. Steyer said that Common Sense encourages parents to work with their kids on making media a positive part of their family lives.
“Media is fun and our kids love it, and it can be a great way to spend some time together as a family,” Steyer said. “But it’s important to teach our kids how to use media in healthy ways.”
To help parents ensure that kids use the media in a fun, safe and healthy manner, Common Sense Media offers these tips on setting a healthy “media diet” for children:
- Set time limits on media use, and stick to them. Create a balanced schedule of how much media your kids can use, and when.
- Put the TV, computer and video game console in a central location, and get them out of children’s bedrooms. This will help you monitor how much time they are spending with the media, and what kinds of content they are using.
- Use media with your kids, and talk to them about what you’re seeing, hearing and playing. Point out ads for junk food, unrealistic sexual or violent content, and depictions of smoking and drinking that you don’t like. Use media as an opportunity to talk to your kids about your values.
Common Sense Media is the leading non-partisan organization dedicated to improving media and entertainment choices for kids and families.
