Published: July 12, 2005

Turn Off Your PC for a week - Yeah, Right

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According to the PC-Turnoff organization, families around the world will participate in PC-Turnoff Week. Scheduled for August 1-7 of this year, PC-Turnoff Week is a time when parents are encouraged to keep the family computer turned off and consider healthy alternatives.

Today, children spend less time reading, playing outdoors and interacting with family and friends. Computers are wonderful tools for learning, assisting with research, and communication; however, kids often waste time aimlessly surfing the web, playing games, or chatting online. Excessive computer use leads to social isolation, lower grades in school, overweight children (even obesity), and negative impact on cognitive development.

The organization's website www.pcturnoff.org, helps concerned parents and others learn how to promote healthy computer habits for children.

They also find pointers to studies that show how computers are affecting children. You can exchange ideas, ask questions, or share your experiences with balancing your kid's activities and computer use in PC-Turnoff's discussion forum. Kids who respond with "I'm bored" will find lists of fun activities to keep them busy.

The organization cautions that parents may hear vigorous protests from their kids about turning off the computer, but by the end of the week, they will be astonished by the amount of fun they are having, not to mention the healthy tans.

It will be interesting to see the results after the week is over.