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stated, among other things, that children under the age of 2 should not be allowed to watch any television at all. It is worth noting here that it is the act of television watching itself which they state as the problem, regardless of the content. And the entire nation of France recently took the same information collectively to heart, banning all television programs intended for children under three.

The American Academy of Pediatrics went further in their recommendations: They suggest that school-age children should not have more than 1 to 2 hours of total screen time per day, and this includes TV, movies, video games, and computer recreation. Further, among their suggestions is one which is perhaps most crucial, and which parents may find especially difficult: As role models, parents should limit their own screentime, and this will help children do the same.

In order to enjoy a sense of community in the endeavor to unplug your children, you can participate in the annual TV Turnoff Week. Since 1994, more than 50 million people have joined in this annual nationwide event. To learn more about TV Turnoff week, you can visit the TV Turnoff website, which sponsors that special week and provides a toolbox of family ideas for what you can do after the TV goes off.

Ultimately, we nourish our children's growing minds most effectively not just by turning off the TV, but by making ourselves a living example of the unplugged life. If our children see us sit down at a quiet moment with a book, if they see us engaged in vibrant conversation or in play or music or any non-screen occupation, then they will follow suit. And we will enjoy a dual pleasure: the knowledge that we are being responsible parents, and the blossoming of our own creativity in the timeless real-life human world.

Learn more about this author, Iris Forester.
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