April 2008
TV Turnoff Kit Encourages Preschoolers to "Unplug" During National Turnoff Week.
April 21-27 Marks the 15th Annual Turnoff Week Where Both Adults and Children are Challenged to Replace Their Screen Time with Healthy Activities
Portland, Oregon (PRWEB) April 21, 2008 – In honor of National Turnoff Week, Blue Lake Children’s Publishing announced today that it will provide 50 Tessy & Tab TV Turnoff Kits to preschool children and their families attending the kickoff event in Washington DC at the University of the District of Columbia. The Tessy & Tab TV Turnoff Kits provide parents with a 6-step guide to reprogram family leisure time bringing healthy activities such as reading, exercise or creative projects back into their lives.
Extensive research shows kids who spend 2+ hours per day watching TV are more likely to exhibit violent behavior, poor school performance, and a higher intake of junk food. On the flip side, kids who spend less time glued to a screen are less prone to violence, do better in school, and are less likely to be obese.
“The average American child spends a staggering five hours every day staring into digital devices such as television, video games, and the Internet, “said Blue Lake CEO Judy Johnston. “We want to encourage families to reduce screen time and replace it with activities that build language and social skills such as reading, active and imaginative play, and family interaction.”
Tips for reducing family screen time include:
- Turn off the TV during meals, which encourages everyone to eat and talk together.
- Keep computers, TVs, and video game consoles out of kid's bedrooms.
- Don't use screen time as a reward.
- Designate certain days of the week as screen-free days.
The Tessy & Tab TV Turnoff Kit includes the following and is available at www.tessyandtab.com/tvturnoff:
- Parent’s Guide to Managing Preschool Screen Time
- Four Tessy & Tab Books (Plant A Garden, Flag Football, Making Monsters, TV Turn Off )
- Chart to Prepare for Successful TV Turnoff Week
- Chart to Help Build New Routine With Less TV
For more information on the impact of screen time on children visit:
- The Center for Screen Time Awareness : www.screentime.org
- Kaiser Permanente : www.kp.org/tvturnoff
- American Academy of Pediatrics : www.aap.org
- Center on Media and Child Health: http://www.cmch.tv/
About Blue Lake Children’s Publishing
Founded in 2002 and based in Portland, Oregon, Blue Lake Children's Publishing creates magazines and learning toolkits with engaging characters and innovative formats that capture the imagination of today's media-savvy children. The Tessy & Tab Reading Club combines a children’s magazine subscription with tools for parents to help their preschooler get ready to read. This reading program builds early reading skills in children ages 2-6 and was developed to support the Six Skills for Early Literacy endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information call 1-800-921-3284 or visit www.tessyandtab.com.
Contact:
Linda Collier, Blue Lake Children’s Publishing
503-267-8373
linda@bluelakepublishing.com
www.tessyandtab.com
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