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NATIONAL TV-TURNOFF WEEK for April 24-30, 1995
- To: tap-info@tap.org
- Subject: NATIONAL TV-TURNOFF WEEK for April 24-30, 1995
- From: James Love <love@tap.org>
- Date: Fri, 14 Apr 1995 15:31:22 -0400 (EDT)
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TAXPAYER ASSETS PROJECT - INFORMATION POLICY NOTE
April 14, 1995
- Citizen groups organize NATIONAL TV-TURNOFF WEEK for April
24-30, 1995
- Citizens can obtain information, including complete
organizers kit, from Henry Labalme (hlabalme@essential.org,
202/887-0436), from TV-Free America.
What: National TV-Turnoff Week
When: April 24-30, 1995
Why: To re-think the role of television, why we use it and
how and what for. Assess its impact on students,
teachers, parents, children,individuals, etc.
How: Simply switch off or unplug your TV set for seven days
and engage in a wide range off substitute activities
Who: Individuals, children, families, students, groups, etc.
Where: In your homes, schools, libraries, businesses,
congregations, etc.
For More Information (including the complete organizers kit)
contact:
Henry Labalme; hlabalme@essential.org
TV-Free America, 1322 18th Street, NW - Suite 300,
Washington, DC 20036; tel: (202) 887-0436;
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TV
- Number of 30-second commercials seen in a year by an average
child: 20,000
- Number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful
conversation with their children: 38.5
- Number of minutes per week that the average child watches
television: 1,680
- Percentage of children ages 6-17 who have TV's in their
bedrooms: 50
- Percentage of day care centers that use TV during a typical
day: 70
- Hours per year the average American youth spends in school:
900 hours
- Hours per year the average American youth watches
television: 1500
- Percentage of Americans that regularly watch television
while eating dinner: 66
ABOUT TV-FREE AMERICA AND THE NATIONAL TV-TURNOFF WEEK
APRIL 24-30, 1995
TV-Free America is a national nonprofit organization that was
founded in 1994 to raise awareness about the harmful effects of
excessive television-watching and encourage Americans to reduce
the amount of television that they watch--and replace TV time
with activities that lead to more literate, productive lives and
engaged citizenship.
During the last decade, TV-turnoffs have been carried out with
great success in schools and communities across the U.S. Because
taking an extended break from television has proven such an
effective method for reducing the influence of excessive
TV-watching in the home, thousands of parents, teachers, students
and community leaders have come together to help orchestrate the
first National TV-Turnoff Week this April.
National TV-Turnoff Week, which is being coordinated by TV-Free
America, is endorsed/supported by the following organizations:
American Federation of Teachers
Children's Defense Fund
American Medical Association
Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc.
National Parenting Association
Parenting Publications of America
National Coalition on Television Violence
Libraries For the Future
American Poetry and Literacy Project
National Religious Partnership for the Environment
Children's Literacy Initiative
National TV-Turnoff Week is the first nationwide effort which
targets the medium of television and asks that people reassess
the role TV plays in their daily lives as entertainer, pacifier,
babysitter, time filler and background noise. Television is
generally a passive "non-activity" which often detracts from more
healthy, interpersonal, productive, rewarding and
community-oriented activities. National TV-Turnoff Week is about
having more fun and turning "on" your life. It's an opportunity
to rediscover the wide range of activities that exist when one
unplugs from the sedentary, image-based, simplistic and
commercial world of television.
-------------------------------------
ANSWERS TO 10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1) "Why turn off the television completely? Can we do it for
just one day?"
Turning off the television for seven full days helps
participants realize that life without television is not
torture and may actually be more fun. A multi-day TV "fast"
allows sufficient time for the development of habits likely
to be more productive and rewarding. A one day turnoff
provides too little challenge.
2) "Is all TV bad? What about the Discovery Channel or PBS?"
All TV is passive, sedentary and non-experiential. Most
viewers tend to watch show after show--not individual
programs. Instead of watching a documentary about birds, go
out (with binoculars if you have them) and see how many real
birds you can identify in your neighborhood. The purpose of
National TV-Turnoff Week is to leave behind judgements about
the quality of television and focus instead on creating,
discovering, building, participating and doing.
3) "What about media literacy and teaching critical viewing
skills?"
By going without television for a week, people will learn a
great deal about their television habits and will likely be
more critical viewers if and when they decide to return to
the tube. A TV "fast" is a path to media literacy.
4) "I can't give up my programs! Don't interfere in my home!"
Remember that a TV-Turnoff is voluntary and meant to be fun.
It's intended to build family and community spirit.
Coordinate your turnoff in a way that does not alienate or
offend parents--they already have their hands full! Send a
letter to parents that asks for the family's participation
in the turnoff. Indicate the support of the principal, the
teachers, PTA or other groups that you have. Parents are
more likely to sign on if they know that school
professionals support the project.
5) "Do we have to plan an activity every night?"
Some organizers feel providing an activity every night
doesn't mimic real life and allows for a big letdown after
the turnoff, so some people plan just a few. Plan
activities that you might consider doing the following week.
In-school activities are a possibility also, and most
organizers agree it is good to have at least one family
activity during the turnoff.
6) "What about the name TV-Free America? Are you advocating
the complete eradication of television?"
TV-Free America encourages Americans to watch less
television and replace TV time with activities that lead to
more productive and rewarding lives. A TV-Turnoff is an
effective way to help break the television habit. While it
may be unrealistic to think participants will never watch
television again (although a few won't), many will regard
the medium in a much different way henceforward.
7) "How can we best appeal to teenagers?"
Make the turnoff fun and provocative. Copy and distribute
articles and essays about the environmental and social
issues surrounding television and have had students debate
the opposing views. Some teachers have awarded extra
credits to participating students who keep a journal and
write an essay about their week without television. Past
TV-Turnoff organizers have asked local businesses (theaters,
skating rinks, miniature golf courses, bowling alleys, etc.)
to offer discounts to students, families and individuals who
show a signed TV-Turnoff "Pledge Card."
8) "I need some peace and quiet when I come home. The
television
occupies the kids while I fix dinner."
Invite the children to help with simple tasks or have them
talk with you while you prepare dinner. Developing a few
special (and regular) pre-dinner activities and habits for
children is a very worthwhile investment. Some parents also
find playing with kids for just a few minutes helps relax
the kids as well as themselves.
9) "Our neighborhood is unsafe. Better that my kids sit in
front of the television at home than risk harm outside."
There are many indoor activities that are fun, productive
and TV-free (see list). Work with neighbors or a local
community center to develop indoor and outdoor activities
for participating families. Point out that neighborhood
improvement will never occur as long as residents merely
retreat to the fictional, vicarious world of television.
10) "I can't afford the cost of these "substitute" activities!"
There are many free and simple activities (see enclosed
lists) sponsored by libraries, environmental groups,
museums, universities, etc. Local newspapers, radio
stations and community organizations will have listings of
free, public events. Outdoor recreation is an activity that
is generally free--as well as healthy!
---------------------------------
SOME ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
1) Volunteer in a school to teach reading, math, computer
skills.
2) Learn to play the guitar or other musical instrument.
3) Attend community concerts.
4) Organize a community clean-up.
5) Put together a puzzle.
6) Visit the library. Borrow a book. Attend library
activities.
7) Go ice skating or roller skating.
8) Listen to the radio.
9) Visit the zoo.
10) Paint a picture, a mural or a room.
11) Attend a high school sporting event.
12) Find out about your area's community center or park's
activities.
13) Go swimming. Join a community swim team.
14) Read a book aloud to your younger sister/brother.
15) Plan a picnic or barbecue.
16) Go bird watching.
17) Volunteer for a community organization or charity.
18) Play with your pet.
19) Go dancing.
20) Write a letter to a friend or relative.
21) Learn to cook.
22) Plant a flower, vegetable or herb garden.
23) Read magazines or newspapers.
24) Plan a slumber party.
25) Start a neighborhood basketball, soccer, or kickball game.
26) Go camping (even if it's just in the backyard!).
27) Join a choir.
28) Go through your closets and clothes. Donate surplus items to
Goodwill, the Salvation Army or a local rummage sale.
29) Start a diary/journal.
30) Go to a museum.
31) Take a nature hike. Collect seeds and leaves. Make a
collage with the materials you collected and post it on the
refrigerator.
32) Play cards.
33) Start a community exercise group that power walks, runs, or
bikes.
34) Read a story to your younger brother or sister.
35) Get out the family photo album. Research your family
history.
36) Go listen to a local band.
37) Make crafts to give as gifts.
38) Make up a story and write it down.
39) Learn to say simple phrases in a few different languages.
40) Ask an older family member to tell you a story about his or
her childhood. Write about it.
41) Learn some new riddles or jokes.
42) Bake two batches of cookies; one for your family and one for
a neighbor.
43) Watch the night sky through binoculars; identify the
different constellations. Observe the moon.
44) Visit a local bookstore.
45) Go to a movie with your family or friends.
46) Walk to work or school.
47) Start a kids bowling league.
48) Train for a 5K race.
49) Teach a neighbor about a computer program.
50) Go fishing.
51) Begin a family project.
52) HAVE A PARTY TO CELEBRATE A TV-FREE WEEK.
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