Many times, families want to spend time together, and the easiest way to do it is to watch television together. Television exposes children to adult situations and to advertisements for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods. Time spent in front of the television is not quality family time because you are not interacting with each other. Children will learn a lot more if you turn off the television and spend time with them. If the weather is nice, go for a walk. Add a challenge to make it more interesting. Look for license plates from the most states or the farthest state. You can listen for different bird calls or look for interesting rocks. Play catch or kick ball. Inside, play board games, card games, or word games. Tell stories, read a book together, or draw pictures. Bake bread or muffins together. Have a scavenger hunt or play charades. Use the time together to plan an “international event.” Choose a country you want to learn more about. Get out a map and find out where it is. Find recipes for foods from that country that you can prepare together. Make decorations or costumes. It is a lot more fun and educational to do things together than it is to watch someone else doing things on television.

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