FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2015

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CELEBRATES SCREEN-FREE WEEK

TALLAHASSEE—Screen-Free Week is an annual celebration from May 4–10 when families, schools and communities swap digital entertainment for the joys of life beyond the screen. The Florida Department of Health and Healthiest Weight Florida are celebrating the week by encouraging Floridians to take the challenge: play, create, get active and spend more time with family and friends instead of watching TV, surfing the web or playing with apps and video games this week.

“Screen-Free Week is an excellent opportunity to rebalance our use of digital entertainment,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “It’s a chance for Florida's children, adults, and families to reconnect with the world around them by being active outside and in our communities.”

According to the National Institute of Health, children watch an average of three hours of television a day and spend a total of five to seven hours in front of a screen. Excessive screen time is linked to poor school performance, trouble sleeping, attention problems and increased risk of unhealthy weight.

Learn how you can replace screen time by referencing the Family Guide to A Great Screen-Free Week. If you would like to organize an event, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has created an Organizer’s Kit to walk you through the process. The kit includes all the suggestions, activities and handouts you’ll need.

For more information about Screen-Free Week, and for additional resources, please visit http://www.screenfree.org.

For a fact sheet on children and screen time, please visit http://www.screenfree.org/research-and-fact-sheets/.  

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Healthiest Weight Florida is a public-private collaboration bringing together state agencies, not-for-profit organizations, businesses and entire communities to help Florida's children and adults make consistent, informed choices about healthy eating and active living. To learn more about Healthiest Weight Florida, please visit www.HealthiestWeightFL.com.

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.floridahealth.gov.