TURN OFF YOUR TV!

"Television will never be a serious competition for the radio because people must sit and keep their eyes glued to the screen. The average American family doesn't have time for it."
New York Times at the 1939 World's Fair

Turn it off. Live it up!
TV-Turn off Celebration
Thursday April 26, 2007
5-8pm
Dow Center Hope College 13th and Columbia Ave. Holland
To register call the City of Holland 616-355-1130

The fun events include
Kindermusik of Holland
Indoor bowling
Birds of Prey
Children's arts and games
Story times
Yoga
activities for adults too!

Television cuts into family time, harms our children's ability to read and succeed in school, and contributes to unhealthy lifestyles and obesity. Here are just a few of the facts:
On average, children in the US will spend more time in front of the television (1,023 hours) than in school this year (900 hours).
Forty percent of Americans frequently or always watch television during dinner.
As US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher said at the Kick Off of TV-Turnoff Week 2001, "We are raising the most overweight generation of youngsters in American history...This week is about saving lives."


1) Television Eats Your Time
The average U.S. adult watches more than 4 hours of television a day. That's 25 percent of waking time spent every day. Imagine if you suddenly had 25 percent more time (More time for Kindermusik).
2) Television Makes You Stressed (The blinking screen of the TV causes us to produce cortisol, the stress hormone.) (Try Kindermusik rocking songs instead!)
3) Television Makes You Overweight
People eat between 31 and 74 percent more calories while watching TV. (Time to dance High and Low to your KindermusiK CDs.)
4) Television Make You Uninteresting
Many people have whole conversations that are recaps of TV programs, sporting events and sitcoms. When asked about their real lives, there is little or nothing to report and no stories to tell (except the TV shows they have watched). (I love those real life stories of your children dancing the syncopated rhythms from their Kindermusik Village class.)
5)Television Ruins Your Relationships
A television is turned on an average of 7 hours and 40 minutes per day in many U.S. households. With the TV on that much, there is little time for you and your significant other or children to spend time together, share experiences, and develop deeper relationships.
Sitting together and watching TV does not grow a relationship. Turn that TV off and find something to do together. (Sign up for a Kindermusik Adventure Summer class: http://holland.kindermusik.net)
6)Television is Not Relaxation (Give your child a massage while you sing a lullaby, enjoy that eye to eye contact! Then do those fun Knee bounces like we do in Kindermusik. Remember if they get a good belly laugh their bodies will produce a day and a half of extra white blood cells. That's for boosting imunities....)
7) Television Loses Opportunities (You sit in front of the TV and before you know it your children will be walking out the door--grown up and gone. Quick, go in the kitchen and do "All ARound the Kitchen Cockadoodle Doo! with all the pots and pans...need more ideas? Look in your Kindermusik Family activity books.)
8) Television is Addictive. Do you schedule things around your favorite shows? (People first. Have a conversation instead. Ask your little one what they did in Kindermusik today.)
9) Television Makes You Buy Things
By age 65, the average American has seen 2 million commercials. (I can't advertise Kindermusik on TV anyway. Let's make live music instead. See you in class.)
10) Television Costs Money (Save that money and keep your kids in Kindermusik and music lessons. Kindermusik.....a good beginning that never ends.)

What about me? We got rid of our TV. Completely. When the AT&T telemarketer called to find out why we have phone service, internet service but no cable he was completely shocked when I told him it was because we don't own a TV. After a prolonged moment of silence he asked "Well, what do you DO?" My daughter was listening in and shouting "WE READ, WE READ!!!" Can you imagine that!

You can do it to. At least for one week.

Peace,

Yvette

Thanks to Mark Stibich, PhD and the website: longevity.about.com for 10 TV consequences and the quote from the top.