On this page:

• Reducing TV Time
• Suggestions for Coping Without TV
• TV Turnoff Tips
• Screen Free Activities

Childhood obesity is now epidemic in the US, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, 2000. Obesity leads to other diseases including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and arthritis.

Turning off the TV is a great way to improve the health of you and your family. By watching less TV your family will have more time to exercise and eat healthier.

Reducing TV time is as easy as 1, 2, 3

1. Make the commitment. Sit down and talk with your family about reducing TV times.
2. Make a plan. Together identify times that you and your family watch TV. Ask them to help brainstorm activities you can do during time periods when you would normally be watching TV.
3. Carry out your plan

Suggestions for coping without TV include:

1. Be patient. Don’t worry about boredom. Your children WILL find something to do.
2. Send the kids outside, to play.
3. Make a list of all the things you love to do besides watching TV and keep it posted somewhere.
4. Take photos of your children doing creative things and keep them visible.
5. Create your OWN family experiences instead of living vicariously through the lives of movie or sitcom stars.
6. Share ideas with your friends about what you are attempting. You may meet with more support than you think.

Below are some tips on how you can reduce TV time and ideas for activities you and your kids can do instead of watching TV.

TV Turnoff Tips

• Keep the TV off during meals.
• Exercise as a family by taking walks and riding bikes.
• Designate certain days of the week as TV Free days.
• Remove televisions from your room and your children's rooms.
• Hide the remote.

Screen Free Activities

• Play a game.
• Start a garden.
• Talk a walk, a swim or ride a bike.
• Cook a healthy meal with family and friends.
• Climb a tree.
• Play hide and seek.
• Read a book.
• Go on a family outing to the park or museum.
• Create simple art projects you can do as a family

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