Screen Free Week good for family activities

HAYDEN - Turn off the TV and computer, and spend time with your family or friends.

That's the idea of Screen-Free Week, set for April 18-24.

Coordinated by Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Screen-Free Week is celebrated by parents, educators, health providers, including the Panhandle Health District.

The Action for Healthy Kids group through PHD is hoping the week away from screens will motivate families to plan healthy activities such as kite flying, hiking, bike-riding, gardening, outdoor games and more.

Screen-Free Week started in 1996 to reduce the commercial influence on children and encourage more family time. Preschoolers average 32 hours a week and older children average more.

PHD has distributed pledge forms to schools so children can commit to screen-free activities from April 18 to April 24. For ideas on activities, visit www.beoutsideidaho.org for 101 things to do outside.

Information: Kristen Herron, 415-5140 or [email protected].