or a Guest in Your Home?

If you live in a home where your guest is putting a strain on your hospitality ….

Primary on-line sources

Two nonprofit organizations that encourage children and adults to watch less TV in order to promote healthier lives and communities.

www.tvturnoff.org

www.limitv.org

www.truceteachers.org

Other Useful Web Sites

www.rif.org

"Reading is Fundamental" nonprofit site with interactive activities for children.

http://www.aap.org

The website of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Find a range of information on children and TV.

www.medialit.org

Center for Media Literacy promotes critical thinking and media production skills.

www.childrennow.org

California organization to promote the welfare of children including watching and advocating for a positive media environment.

http://www.jack-and-jill.org

Information on the National Alliance for Non-Violent Programming.

www.mediascope.org

Insights into the entertainment industry's self-regulation.

Books

Reading together from good books fosters reading skills. How much skill does it take to watch TV?

Books are important because they foster brain development and are crucial in the development of language, reading and critical thinking skills. Spending time browsing with your children in the public library teaches both you and your children about books and the significant learning children experience when they are read to. Books are also entertaining and a great resource for times without television.

There are many retail sources for new and used books. Public libraries are the primary source for free books. Public Libraries are like free bookstores. They own more books than most people could ever afford to buy. These books may be borrowed free from your community library for a few weeks and then returned to the library.

Public Libraries

Public Libraries have many resources besides books that are free to the public. They include magazines, newspapers, and music CD's, CDRom's and subscription databases. To get a free public library card, visit your town library with proof of address, or call your local library for more information. You can find your town library on-line here.

Subscription Databases

Access your local public library's web-based databases from home or at the library. Each library in Massachusetts has access to various subscription databases, which are then provided free to patrons. All you need is your card. Click here to read the Scientific American journal article "Television Addiction Is No Mere Metaphor".

Good Reads for Parents

Winn, Marie. The Plug-In Drug: Television, Computers, and Family Life. 2002

Butler, Dorothy. Babies need books. 1998

Codell, Esme. How to Get Your Child to Love Reading. 2003

Kropp, Paul. How To Make Your Child a Reader For Life. 1996

Leonhardt, Mary. 99 Ways to Get Kids to Love Reading. 1997

Trelease, Jim. Read-Aloud Handbook. 5^th ed. 2001

Good Reads for ages 4 – 8

Berenstain, Stan. Berenstain Bears and too much TV

Brenner, Barbara. The magic box. (e-book)

Cosby, Bill. Best way to play

Marx, David. Turn it off

McPhail, David. Fix-it

Nickle, John. TV Rex

Novak, Matt. Mouse TV

Ziefert, Harriet. When the TV broke

c) chm 3-01-07