Area families accept challenge of TV Turnoff; National event coincides with vacation.

Byline: Jennifer Lucarelli

While many homes across the country have more televisions than people, some families are taking a stand during the week of April vacation and turning off their televisions.

Michelle Neddo of Shrewsbury has challenged her family for the last three years to shut off the TV during national Turnoff Week.

"I think it's a great thing to do as a family," said Mrs. Neddo, who is the mother of three sons, ages 3 to 7. "We started to do it when my oldest was in kindergarten and now we do it every year."

This year, she thinks, will be more of a challenge.

"We now have more computer games like the Wii and Nintendo DS, so they'll have to do without those as well," she said. "But I'm up for the challenge."

One saving grace, she says, is that it's not February vacation week.

"Since it's April, we'll be outside a lot more riding bikes, taking walks and playing in the yard," she said. "But let's just hope the weather cooperates."

In the past, area schools such as Floral Street School in Shrewsbury have challenged students to turn off the television.

"We have the children sign a contract with their parents, and if they succeed in not watching television for the week, we give out certificates," said Sandra Sorenson, the school's nurse who helped coordinate the program in the past. "A lot of kids liked doing it, and we even tried it with our own kids at home."

Mrs. Sorensen, who has three children ages 8, 11 and 17, said, "We played more games together as a family, and we definitely talked more. A couple of times we only made it through a few days, but it is a great challenge for any family."

Studies have shown that more than 50 percent of households in America have at least three televisions, according to the Center for Screen-Time Awareness, a national organization that encourages people to take control of the electronic media in their lives, not allowing it to control them.

"Based on the latest research available, the government of France has banned production of television programming for children under 3 years of age," the center says on its Web site. "According to government officials, data suggests that exposure to the screen for the very young leads to learning delays and other problems that can be avoided by eliminating screen time."

According to the TV Turnoff Network, the average child watches 20,000, 30-second commercials in an average year.

"Watching television is a passive activity," said Chris Fournier, assistant principal at Gibbons Middle School in Westboro. "It is engaging them so much less than reading a book or magazine."

Mr. Fournier said his school doesn't have plans for Turnoff Week, but in March the school promoted a program to turn off all electrical appliances and devices in the home for one hour a day. "Imagine how much energy you save that one hour in one day, especially if everyone did it," he said.

As a father of three children, Mr. Fournier said his children's lives are so busy with activities such as sports and homework that there is only so much daylight before they have to go to bed.

"The kids love to fish, bike and go skateboarding," he said. "So, if their homework is done and their chores, then they can usually watch a half-hour show."

He said that television is more of a reward than an everyday occurrence in his home.

"And our students are the same way. We have a very involved student body, so I'm not even sure if they would know who is on `American Idol' this season," he said. "And I'm proud of our students for that."

Mr. Fournier also said the students at his school are more likely to be involved in texting each other or socializing than hanging out watching television when they have free time.

For more information about national Turnoff Week, visit www.tvturnoff.org or www.turnoffyourtv.com.

Things to do during Turnoff Week

Learn to play the guitar or other musical instrument.

Attend community concerts.

Organize a community cleanup.

Put together a puzzle.

Visit the library.

Go ice skating or roller skating.

Listen to the radio.

Visit the zoo.

Paint a picture, a mural or a room.

Attend a high school sporting event.

Go swimming.

Read a book aloud to your younger sister or brother.

Plan a picnic or barbecue.

Go bird watching.

Volunteer for a community organization or charity.

Play with your pet.

Go dancing.

Write a letter to a friend or relative.

Learn to cook.

Plant a garden.

ART: PHOTOS

PHOTOG: T&G Staff Photos/STEVE LANAVA

CUTLINE: (1) Andrew Deng, 9, tries to launch his large Phoenix kite at Ellsworth-McAfee Park in Northboro. Andrew recently visited the park with his parents, who were holding the kite string. (2) From left, Thomas Cheng breaks away from Felice Xie and Aileen Cheng for an easy layup during their recent game. (3) From left, Felice Xie, 8, Aileen Cheng, 8, and Thomas Cheng, 10, all of Shrewsbury, battle for a loose ball during a friendly game of basketball at Dean Park in Shrewsbury earlier this month. (4) Felice grabs the ball away from Thomas during the game.