Monday #2- Turn Off Your TV!

What Matters Most?



Facts:

• 99% of all homes have at least one TV and 45% have 3 or more.
• 56% of all 8 to 16 year olds have a TV in their bedroom.
• A person watches TV an average of 40 days per year.
• Children spend 1,023 hours a year watching TV compared to 900 hours in school.
• 200,000 violent acts, including 16,000 murders, will be see on TV by children before their 18th birthday.
• Roughly 70% of all TV shows include sexual content, with an average of 5 sexual scenes per hour.
• On average, 38.5 minutes per week of meaningful conversation happen between a parent and their child.

Take action today!

1. Turn off your TV today.
2. Designate certain TV-free time throughout the week to reduce viewing hours.
3. Remove TV's from bedrooms, kitchens, etc.
4. Make a list of activities to do besides watching TV- activities like reading, biking, swimming, walking, gardening, or socializing with friends. Then start doing them!
5. Avoid using TV as a reward- this only increases its power.
6. Be more selective about programming and choose history, travel, cooking, home repair/design, and other educational themes.

Your matter!

70% of people say that no matter how hard they try, they never seem to have enough time to do everything they need to do.

Are you a part of that 70%?

If you give up TV for just one day a week, you can exercise for the recommended weekly amount necessary for healthy living, read over 20 books a year, or spend more time with your loved ones.

Instead of watching reruns of FRIENDS, go make some!

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)