Screen Free Week

Dear Readers,

On April 30-May 6, we will be participating in Screen-Free Week 2012. Screen-Free Week is a nationwide event celebrated by schools, families, and other civic and community groups each year.  During Screen-Free Week, millions of children and adults pledge to spend seven days screen-free.  Instead of watching TV or playing video games, they tend to read, play, think, create, get physically active, and spend more time with friends and family.

Studies show that children who watch less TV are more likely to read well and to be physically fit.  Turning off screens also allows for more family time.  Each week, children spend more time in front of a screen than they do in school!  Screen-Free Week is a great way to jump-start our kids into more reading, learning, and active play. 

Many parents choose to join their children in forgoing screen-based entertainment all week long and engaging in other fun activities.  This kind of support is the best thing you can do to ensure that your child will have a successful and beneficial experience.

Here at the Educators’ Spin On It, we believe in the power of parenting with purpose and have pledged to turn off our screens for the week and make even more meaningful connections with our children, spouses, friends, and community members. Because of this, no new posts will be added to the blog during this time.  We will be reading, gardening, getting caught up with the mending, playing board games, going on field trips, and just having fun with our kids!

We would love to have you join us in this 7 day challenge.  Admittedly, this 7 day challenge may be difficult for some families.  We urge you to consider modifying the challenge to meet your family needs; it can be “just when the kids are awake,” or it can even be just TV vs all screens, or it can be just for 3 days.

We have created a packet of 4 printable activity checklists to help you with ideas on activities to do with your families this week, a reminder note to print off and tape to your screens, and a certification of completion – all FREE with one download here.

Enjoy your week,

Amanda and Kim