Kimberly and Kevin Kinnan from Beulah, Mich. don't subscribe to cable TV service. They're lucky if they can receive two channels off the antenna. "It was just never a priority to get cable," Kimberly Kinnan says. "We didn't have cable before we had kids and we're so busy now doing other things, we don't miss it."

Although the Kinnans rarely watch network TV, they did watch some of the Olympic games and occasionally watch videos. So, what do the Kinnans do with their free time instead of watch TV? "My kids really enjoy reading. We also play outside a lot and play board games together," Kinnan says. The Kinnans' children are also active in Scouts, Science Olympics and sports, to name a few. Their active lifestyle leaves little time for TV.

The TV-Turnoff Network is hoping families will discover results similar to the Kinnans, when they take part in the TV-Turnoff Week challenge April 22 through 28. The challenge encourages families to turn off the TV for one full week and discover alternatives to TV watching.

Can You Go A Week?
If your family isn't quite ready for this week-long challenge, consider evaluating how much you are watching. Professor Keith A. Alford, of Syracuse University's College of Human Services and Health Professions in California, believes there are two key questions parents should ask: "First, is television viewing being used as a substitute for family time spent together in more engaging activities? Second, are the programs being watched ones that parents have sanctioned? These are critical questions that families must explore in terms of child and family development and family cohesiveness in general," Professor Alford says.

Whether you decide to take the week-long challenge or are just looking for fun alternatives to TV, here are some great ideas to get you started!

• Photographer for a Week – Purchase a disposable camera for the children. Don't worry about lighting or angles. Give the kids free range and develop the film and create a scrapbook.
• Lights! Camera! Action! – A child's vivid imagination can make a great movie. Use a camcorder to tape their story. Or tape your own talk show and interview each other. You may discover something new about your spouse and children.
• Once Upon a Time – Have the children use a tape recorder to record favorite storybooks to send to their friends or family members. Make sure to make some recordings for yourself to use on long car trips, too!
• Stroll Down Memory Lane – Dust off the box of family pictures and family slides and revisit the past.
• "B" is for Baby – Show each child their baby book and the memorabilia you collected for them in their first few years.
• Mystery Road Trip – Pack up the family with no destination in mind. Let everyone have a chance to decide which turn to take next. Give yourself a time frame. When the time is up, stop and explore your destination.
• Piece by Piece – Take your favorite family picture to a photo processor and have it made into a puzzle. Complete the puzzle together.
• Commet allez-vous? – Learn a new word or phrase in a foreign language. This one is a freebie. It is French for "How are you?" Visit your library or go online at www.travlang.com to learn more.
• Neighborhood Clean Up – Clean up debris polluting your block, road or apartment complex. Better yet, partner up with your neighbors and make a day of it and order pizza for your reward!
• Volunteer – Inquire about volunteering at your local hospital. Or call ahead to a nursing home or retirement village. Volunteer to visit patients who don't receive many visitors.
• Get Organized – Open the closets and whatever doesn't fall on your head, take to your church or favorite charity. Encourage your children to give away some toys that they no longer play with.
• Dessert First? – Schedule a backwards dinner. Serve a family favorite dessert first and end with salad.
• Family Time Capsule – Include a newspaper, current family pictures and personal contributions like journal entries, kids artwork, etc. Store away in an airtight container and in a few years get it back out for reminiscing.
• Vacation Destination – Take an evening to discuss your vacation plans for the summer. Get input from the kids and check out books from the library and get information from travel agents.
• Peas, Corn and Beans – Peruse seed catalogs and sketch a garden plot or patio garden. Children are more likely to actually eat vegetables when they plant and care for them.
• Get Moving! – Go bowling (ugly shoes are hip), hiking, walking, bicycling or set up some lawn games to encourage outdoor fun.
• Party On! – Celebrate TV-Turnoff Week by throwing a party. Why not make it a costume party and dress up as your favorite literary character?
• Camp Out Inside – Make a tent in the living room and picnic on a large blanket.
• Go Fish! – Introduce your children to your childhood favorites. Make a domino maze. See how high you can build a house of cards. Play bingo, pick-up sticks or charades.
• Stack the Deck – Invest a whopping $1.00 on a deck of cards and learn to play some new games. Try www.thehouseofcards.com for some ideas.
• Open Wide – Try catching jelly beans or grapes with your mouth.
• Bubble Band – Blow bubbles and make music with ordinary objects around the house.
• Bake for Fun – Make two batches of cookies: one for your family and one for the neighbors.
• Be Ye Thankful – Create a list of what you are thankful for. Send thank you notes to complete the activity. Younger children can draw their items.
• Edible Sculptures – Use uncooked spaghetti to pierce mini marshmallows to create abstract art. Add raisins, grapes and other soft foods to embellish.
• Spread Happiness – Spend some time with a person you know in need of companionship. Do you know someone who lives alone? Someone who is ill? The result will bring joy for both parties!
• Give Someone a Break – Babysit for free for a low income family who could use a night out.
• Storytelling – Sit in a circle. One person starts the story with one line and the others add to the story until the end is announced. Try this one: "The cow knew something fishy was going on when he saw..."

Want to see more?

• Family Rituals and Traditions
• Go Fly A Kite!
• Recip es For Fun!
• Too Much TV? Setting Limits on Television Viewing
• Media Effects on Children: Television