TV Turnoff Week

The Center for Screen-Time Awareness (CSTA; formerly TV-Turnoff Network) is an international nonprofit organization that provides information and tools for people to take control of the electronic media in their lives and not allow it to control them.

TV Turnoff Week is CTSA initiative that takes place each year at the end of April. Since it began in 1995, more than 50 million people, including children and adults, all over the world have participated.

Locally, schools in Waterloo Region participate in TV Turnoff for one week in April and encourage parents and community members to take the Pause to Play Family Challenge and turn off all screens for one week. This includes the TV, video games and computers. Families can monitor their success using the Pause to Play Tracker Form.

Half of Canada's children and youth spend two to four hours per day watching television. Children who watch television more than two hours per day are more likely to be overweight and obese. Canadian children and youth rank among the highest in the world for computer use. Nearly half our kids spend three or more hours on the computer each day of the weekend.

As adults, we can set a good example!We can demonstrate healthy screen habits by carefully limiting our own screen time use and carefully select the programs we watch.

Here are some tips to help you decrease your screen time:

• Move the television(s) to a less visible location. TV is far less tempting when it is out of sight.
• Plan your TV viewing. Turn on the TV just when your favourite show starts. Turn it off when the show ends.
• Tape your show and fast-forward through the commercials.
• Try to break your TV watching patterns. If you usually watch TV after the dishes are done, go for a walk instead.
• Hide the remote control.
• Use physical activity as a reward, rather than screen time as a reward.

Here are some ways to incorporate physical activity into your workday. Share your successes with your family at the end of the day!

• Take stretch breaks during meetings.
• Have a "walking" meeting - grab your colleague and discuss business while taking a walk.
• Take the stairs. Encourage others to follow your lead by posting a notice near the entrance to the stairway suggesting people take the stairs and have them sign it when they do.
• Replace your coffee break with a walking break.
• Contract your stomach and back muscles while sitting in your chair.
• Take a brisk walk before lunch for about 10 minutes.
• Roll your shoulders and stretch your neck when sitting in front of the computer.

For more information on physical activity in the workplace, visit our Additional Resources section or call the Project Health phone line at 519-883-2287.

Archive: