The BODY SMART Blog

7.5 = number of hours of screen time school aged children experience daily

32 = number of hours of television preschoolers watch weekly

19 = percentage of infants one year and under with televisions in their rooms

25,000 = average number of television commercials a preschooler sees

Sometimes when you mention Screen Free Week to adults they get a little freaked out. But there is no need to freak out, folks. Screen Free in this case dose not mean you can’t work or attend to emails. Or that children cannot do schoolwork that requires a screen.

What this week and all of us that celebrate it want folks to do is take a step back from all recreational or leisure screen use for a week — TV, video games, iPhone apps, etc. If it doesn’t need to get done, we’re asking you to take it off the table for a week.

Why, you ask?

Good question! Here are a few reasons to ponder:

1.  It’s no secret that most of us — and certainly children — spend too much time in front of screens. Screen time is associated with a host of health problems and behavior issues, including obesity, attention span issues, and sleep disturbances.
2. For children, screen time is a barrier to creative, self-directed play.
3. It’s indoors and predominantly inactive.  Today only 10% of children get outside on a daily basis. Outdoor play is associated with many health and learning benefits.
4. It will give you the opportunity to connect more as a family. Try game night, a cookout, family walks, etc. Unplug and get connected!
5. It will also give you time to really assess how much screen time you are spending and experience the benefits of a life less tethered to devices. How do you feel? Do you notice any difference in your child’s mood, behavior, or energy level?

So, join us and people across the globe April 30th – May 6th, 2012 for Screen Free Week! Visit the Campaign for Commercial Free Childhood to download your free Organizer’s Kit and get more information.

Good luck, and let us know what you have planned!

Unplug and go play outdoors! ~ Bethe

Blogger Bio: Bethe Almeras, MS, is the Center Director for Head Start Body Start. A long time educator and play advocate, she is passionate about outdoor play and connecting children with nature. In her free time Bethe writes a blog, The Grass Stain Guru, and can often be found playing outside. She is particularly fond of squirrels. And turtles. And sandpipers. And…

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