Children across the country will be challenged at school to turn off their television, video games and computer screens for an entire week (April 18 - 25th, 2010). My children's school has encouraged us to consider: "Why turn off the screens? Watching television cuts into family time, affects our children's ability to read and succeed in school and contributes to an unhealthy lifestyle and obesity. Turning off the television gives us a chance to think, read, get active and connect with our families and our communities."

Wouldn't it be great as a church to reach out to our communities and provide families with some activities that they can do together and a place to do them? Start by promoting "Turn Off the Screens Week" in your church bulletin, and then consider getting families together with:

* Book Reading Challenge - provide families with book titles available from the local library and encourage them to read together, or provide them with stories from the Bible that feature biblical families, then have them discuss how is this family similar to ours?, how are they different?, what can we learn from them?

* Take It Outside Nature Hikes - provide church members with a list of plant life and wildlife to watch out for and award a prize to the family that finds the most items,

* Neighbourhood Clean Up - invite church members to come together to clean up around your church building or at local parks,

* Board Game Night - invite church members to come to the corps bringing along their favourite board games and snack food to share with each other

* Potluck Dinner and Talent Show - invite church members to the corps bringing along their favourite potluck dish and a willingness to share their talent

* Family Friendly Bible Study Night (or devotional) - provide an opportunity for church members to come together for a multi-generational Bible study, one that will appeal to all ages

* "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" night - have church members sign up to be either a host or a guest. Have the host prepare a meal for their family and guests. Then have the guest arrive at a certain time to enjoy the meal and an evening getting to know new friends

* Service Project - invite church members to sign up to either wash windows or do yard work for a senior living on their own or to participate in a talent show or sing-a-long at a local nursing home or seniors residence

The possibilities for encouraging families to turn off their screens are endless. Be sure to visit www.ministryhelps.ca (direct link to family items)  to find more activities that your church could host during the week.


Additional information and tips can be found at the York Region website: www.york.ca or be sure to check your local health department's website.