All posts tagged TV Turn off Week

TV Free: Create some family traditions

By | April 22, 2011 | Easter, Holidays and Events, Parents | 1 Comment
Flickr by **Mary**

The holidays are a great time to create some new family traditions (if you don’t have any) or to celebrate with some long-held customs.  This week is especially well timed, since you don’t have the the distraction of the television to keep you from deepening the family bonds.

There’s some really good research out there about the benefits of family traditions — including strengthening parent-child relationships, decreasing rebellion, greater ability to resist peer pressure, and a whole lot more.  Of course, family traditions are supposed to be fun too!

Here’s some of my favorite ideas:

  • Celebration of New Life: Visit a pet store or go for a walk and hunt for new life.  Record your findings on paper, with a camera, or even video.  After the journey, break out some traditional Easter treats (candy eggs, bunnies, etc).  Discuss 2 Corinthians 5:17 with the kids (from the book Family Traditions)
  • Grab a couple ideas from My Sweetheart Moments Blog.  There’s a picture of a really cute hand craft, especially for the little ones.
  • Art Museums: The Passion of Christ is the most-portrayed subject of Western artists. If you live in a metropolitan area, a visit to your local art museum may give your family much to ponder (from Mommy Life Blog)
  • Foot Washing: This Maundy Thursday event speaks volumes about Jesus’s desire for us to serve. Read John 13. Wrap a towel around your waist, as Jesus did, and wash your children’s feet. Your lives might never be the same (from Mommy Life Blog).
  • Check out the section on this blog called “Make it Real for Little Ones” for a great craft project for the younger crew.
  • Now’s a great time to start Family Devotions.  Need an Easter devotional?  Check out this one on Ministry to Children Blog. While you’re on the site, be sure to browse around for some great Easter video clips and suggested picture books.
  • Of course, we can’t forget about Egg Decorating.  Eggs are a symbol of new life and if you blow out eggs, it can remind you of the empty tomb.  For some great egg coloring ideas, check out this post.

Bonus:

Here’s some Earth Day traditions you might want to think about:

TV Free: Crafty Corner

By | April 20, 2011 | Elementary Age, Parents, Preschoolers, Preteens | 1 Comment
Flickr by saganaga

If you’ve made it to today in the TV-free week, you’re half-way there!  How’s it going so far?

Hopefully you’ve gotten a chance to get a few of those “put-off projects” started and spent some quality time with the family.   Today, we’ve got some crafts for the young and old alike.  If you haven’t done your Easter Eggs yet, you’re in luck — there’s some great links for ideas in this post.  Read on!

Infants and Toddlers

Book: Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s(r) for Infants, Toddlers: Experiences, Activities, and Games…

Kids Craft Ideas: Organized by Nursery Rhymes, Letters, and Holiday (crafts for older ones too)

Summer Crafts for Infants and Toddlers

Book:Wonderplay

Book:The Encyclopedia of Infant and Toddler Activities: Written by Teachers for Teachers

No Time for Flashcards: Ideas by ages (a whole section for infants!)

Here’s a few favorites I found while surfing around today:

Preschoolers

Easter Egg Decorating Ideas: Tons of great ideas on this site!

Enchanted Learning: Lots of categories to choose from

The Happy Housewife Homeschooling: Great activity ideas, scroll around and find them!

Little Learner’s Lounge: Grouped by month, there are activities and crafts on this blog.

Totally Tots: Great for a range of ages.  Lots of ideas.

 

Elementary

In addition to the link above, check out these Easter Egg ideas too!

Free Spring Crafts and Fun from Motherhood Your Way (ebook)

Frugal Family Fun Blog: Packed with ideas for all ages

 

Teens and Adults

Egg Coloring: Martha Stewart style (for those willing to work a little!)

3-D Home Kit: A bit of investment, but I think teens would love it!

Bonus: 20 Tips for Screen Free Week

 

TV Free: Make the Commitment

By | April 18, 2011 | Parents | 5 Comments
Flickr by lawgeek

Okay, here it is: TV Turn Off Week!  In case you missed the introduction, be sure to read “Get Ready for a Week of Total Torture“.  Each day this week, I’ll be providing you with some great alternative ideas to keep you and your family away from that TV.  If you’re in the Erie area, be sure to hop over to my Attachment Parenting page for some local ideas.

If you haven’t talked with your kids about the plan for this week, today might be a good time to do that.  :)  Discuss why you’re turning off the TV.  Make sure you frame it in a fun fashion or it really will be torture week for everyone.  One family I know got some “Caution, Do Not Enter” tape and let their kids wrap the TV up for the week (no sneaking in Netflix after the kids are in bed!).   Do something similar to help your kids invest in the project.  Allow them to make signs (“No TV in this House!”) and hang them everywhere.  Let them know this is going to be  great time to connect and get to know each other as a family better.

Brainstorm some activities you’d like to do as a family this week.  You might not be able to squeeze everything in, but you’ll get some great insight on what your kids are really looking for when it comes to quality time.  Stumped for ideas? Check out some of these great websites for starters.

For us, it’s going to be quite a stretch this year.  My husband just had shoulder surgery and is pretty limited in the alternative activities he can participate in, both because he’s still recovering and because he only has the use of one hand.  However, we’re going to give it a go.   These are some of the activities that are at the top of our list:

  • Work on the Family picture collage project (something I’ve been wanted to get at)
  • Go for a walk
  • Visit grandparents
  • Give the cats a bath (just kidding on this one!)
  • Plan a BBQ for some church friends
  • Do some baking (maybe some will actually make it to the neighbors this time!)
  • Start some Spring Cleaning
  • Play some board games or cards

What about you?

What’s on the agenda for TV-free week for your family?  Email me and I’ll include it in next year’s list!

Get Ready for a Week of Total Torture

By | April 15, 2011 | Holidays and Events, Parents | No comments
Flickr by Zach Klein

That’s what most kids (and some adults!) think when they first hear about TV Turn off Week. There were certainly some of those sentiments flying around our house the first year we chose to celebrate this semi-annual event.  Let me give you the quick run down:

  • Purpose: To re-think the role of television, why we use it and to assess its impact on your family.
  • How: Simply switch off or unplug your TV set for seven days and engage in a wide range off substitute activities.
  • When: April 18- 24, 2011

Common Objections

Check out this page for some of the most common objections to Screen Free week (and corresponding responses) including:

  • “Why turn off the television completely? Can we do it for just one day?”
  • “Is all TV bad? What about the Discovery Channel or PBS?”
  • “Do we have to plan an activity every night?”
  • “How can we best appeal to teenagers?”
  • “I need some peace and quiet when I come home. The television occupies the kids while I fix dinner.”

Starting next week, I’ll be posting some ideas and activities for you and your family to use during TV Turn-off Week.   I encourage you to at least give it a try, even if it sounds pretty torturous and far fetched right now.  The first year we participated, we only made it about 3 days, but the next year was a really great experience.  Stay turned and keep that television off!

Still not convinced?  Check out this Media-Diet Calculator to see you measure up!

Next Week:

TV Free: Make the Commitment

TV Free: Great Board Games

TV Free: Crafty Corner

TV Free: Spring Cleaning

TV Free: Create Family Traditions

 

TV Turn Off Week: Our Progress Report

By | April 30, 2010 | My Thoughts, Parents | No comments

The Whitney house has been celebrating, and I was surprised at how hard to was this year! Maybe it was because the baby brings new responsibilities and at the end of the day we just want to crash in front of the TV. However, we resisted! Instead, we went for walks after dinner (it’s nice that the sun is still out), read books, and even painted our bedroom! It seems like it’s been a slower paced week, even though it’s no different than any other week. Sometimes we just sat on the couch and talked, giving us a chance to reconnect. And of course, we spent lots of time playing with the baby! I’m glad we stuck with the commitment, even though it was hard.
What about your family? Did you celebrate? What did you fill your newly acquired free time with?

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TV Turn Off Week

By | April 26, 2010 | My Thoughts, Parents | No comments

It’s here again! That wonderful time of year that we turn off our sets for a week and concentrate on some quality family time! I can’t believe it snuck up on me like this (it actually started April 19th!). In order to fully celebrate, I would encourage you to pick out a week and abstain from all “moving media” (that means hulu and youtube along with regular TV). Now what to do instead? With Earth day just behind us, it’s a great idea to head outside and enjoy God’s creation! Here’s some ideas for young and old alike:

  • Jump! Whether you call it skipping rope or jump roping, it’s a great activity to improve strength and fitness and can be performed on grass or pavement.
  • Retreat to the Beach. Or, instead of driving to the beach, recreate a piece of the coast’s serene atmosphere with a sandbox in the yard.
  • Be Farm and Garden Fresh. Get to know your local farmer and enlist the kids to join you at the local farmers’ markets. Better yet, plant your own garden that everyone can care for and enjoy all season long.
  • Let’s Go Fly a Kite! Show the kids how to soar into a colorful sky with only the force of nature to power your kite. A centuries-old activity, kite flying can be enjoyed at any age—with a little wind, of course!
  • Give Back. Gather the family for a volunteer day dedicated to beautifying the earth. Many communities have organizations that champion environmental protection and regularly organize events like stream and trail clean-ups.
  • Be Bubbly! Invite the neighbors to create bubble wands out of objects found around the house like straws, pipe cleaners, strawberry baskets and coat hangers. Take the kids outside and have your own bubble party!
  • Take a Hike. Locate a nature trail near you and take the kids on a woodsy adventure. Hiking is a group activity that provides great exercise and hands-on experiences with the natural world.
  • Start a Kickball Game. All it takes is a rubber playground ball, make-shift bases and some friends to start a kickball game. Create a neighborhood tournament and coach the kids though innings of bouncing fun.
  • Catch and Release. Butterflies are some of nature’s most beautiful creatures, although they aren’t easy to observe when they flutter in the sky. Using an insect or butterfly net, capture them and show the kids how to appreciate their beauty up close. Then let them loose.

What’s So Great about Turnoff Week?

Turning off the screen gives us time to think, read, create, and do the things we never have time for. This allows us to connect with our families and engage in our communities. We feel good about ourselves as we grow more physically and mentally active.

Alternative Activities Ideas from: www.turnoffyourtv.com

  • Volunteer in a school to teach reading, math, computer skills.
  • Attend community concerts.
  • Organize a community clean-up.
  • Put together a puzzle.
  • Visit the library. Borrow a book. Attend library activities.
  • Listen to the radio.
  • Visit the zoo.
  • Paint a picture, a mural or a room.
  • Attend a high school sporting event.
  • Find out about your area’s community center or park’s activities.
  • Go swimming.
  • Read a book aloud to your younger sister/brother.
  • Plan a picnic or barbecue.
  • Go bird watching.
  • Volunteer for a community organization or charity.
  • Play with your pet.
  • Write a letter to a friend or relative.
  • Try a new recipe together .
  • Plant a flower, vegetable or herb garden.
  • Read magazines or newspapers.
  • Plan a slumber party.
  • Go camping (in the backyard!)

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