Screen Free Week 2012

April 30 to May 6, 2012 is Screen-Free Week. It’s a chance for families to unplug from electronic media devices and enjoy other activities. Afraid your kids (or you) won’t be able to fill all those minutes and hours previously spent with the TV, video game console or laptop?

Here are a few ideas for your family to try:

Many movies are based on children’s literature. This is the week to actually sit down and read one them. Cuddle up on the couch and let your child’s imagination create the action in their mind. Some great children’s stories that have made it to the big screen include:

Bridge to Terabithia

Tuck Everlasting

War Horse,

Black Beauty

Ramona and Beezus

Kit Kittredge An American Girl

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Anne of Green Gables

The Chronicles of Narnia

Make puppets or dress up as your favorite movie character and re-enact your own version of the story. Act out new adventures the character could experience.

Although this one involves a small screen, let your child use the family video camera to make his or her own movie. Help them (if they need it) come up with the characters, create the action, and write the script. Pull out the dress up clothes for costumes and then it’s Lights, Camera, Action!

More details about the movies mentioned in this post…