The statistics are pretty alarming. Television has become the central focus in too many homes. Consider the following:

• The television is on for 7 hours and 40 minutes each day in the typical American home.
• The average American watches four hours of television each day, or two full months per year.
• American children watch television more than partaking in any other activity except sleeping, averaging 32 hours in front of the tube per week.

But some organizations are working to change our attitudes about television. And the message is clear - turn off the TV and spend some quality social time with your family.

If you want to make a change in your viewing habits, here are a number of helpful suggestions for breaking the TV addiction and tuning into your family:

• Pick a few favorites. Let each member of your family select one or two programs each week that are their favorites. Then record and watch them on your schedule.
• Turn it off during dinner. Forty percent of Americans watch television while eating dinner. Having mealtime together is important; turn off the tube during the dinner hour to stimulate conversation and minimize distraction.
• Come up with some alternative activities. Take a family night together and identify at least 20 different activities you could do instead of watching TV. Post it prominently and choose an activity from the list each day until the list is all checked off.
• Walk, hike, bike or move. One of the big complaints about television is the "couch potato" effect. Turn off the TV and take a walk around the neighborhood. Find some local hiking and biking paths. Or just get up and get moving in healthy ways.
• Visit the library. Take an evening as a family to go to the local library, get or renew your library card and find some great books to read together as a family or as individuals.
• Get into the paper. Some people who experiment with turning off the television complain they can’t keep up with news and sports. Many who have turned off the TV have enjoyed rediscovering the local newspaper, whether in print or online.
• Start a family night. Many families are finding that setting aside one night each week to be together as a family has really helped their family unity.

Finding ways to turn off the TV and tune into your family can have important results. Connecting with your children, enhancing your marital relationship and more can be possible as you create positive memories and experiences that don’t involve television.