This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Local Voices

Kids Invited to Turn Off the TV With a Week of Fun Family Events

Los Gatos, California - Every year, thousands of families, schools, libraries, community organizations, and specialty toy stores join together in a coordinated effort in which millions of individuals will leave their TV set off for seven days in late April or early May to disengage from the screens in order to reawaken their imaginations with play and community involvement. 

National Screen Free Week is part of a growing effort to reduce the excessive amount of television that Americans watch – especially children. The annual event helps move beyond the old discussions about program content and instead focuses on what TV-viewing displaces: creativity, productivity, healthy physical activity, civic engagement, reading, thinking and doing. The premier local toy store, The Wooden Horse, will help you fill some of those Screen Free hours with free fun activities.

The Wooden Horse is the kind of warm, old-fashioned, and just plain fun toy store you've always dreamed about. During their 43 years in business they've served as a hands-on resource center for grandparents, parents, children and teachers. Besides good quality, reasonably-priced toys - especially those "open-ended" ones which encourage curiosity, exploration and growth of the "whole" child - you'll find a well-trained and caring staff that goes one step further - during National Screen-Free Week The Wooden Horse opens their doors every evening for free activities and hosts a special Play Day on Saturday to help make avoiding those screens a little easier. 

Find out what's happening in Los Gatoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Reservations are required for the some of the events. 

Children who turn in the journal of their screen-free activities can receive reward.

Find out what's happening in Los Gatoswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For more information or to sign-up for the events contact  The Wooden Horse at sales@woodenhorsetoys.com or 408-356-8821

 

May 5, Monday: Storytime

Long before television, there were story tellers who educated and entertained groups of people with their varied tales. Kids ages 4 and up are invited to come to The Wooden Horse for an evening of read-aloud stories from 7:15 - 8 pm to see why story telling is still a special and unique way to discover great authors and books. Crowd favorite Susan Shirley will be on hand to spin her tales around some of her favorite picture books.  Regulars to The Wooden Horse’s monthly PJ Parties will know that Susan invites all those that are willing to continue writing their own stories beyond their submissions to the Wooden Horse’s annual Spooky Story Contest in October by reading “freshly published” original stories from the audience. Reservations required.

May 6, Tuesday: Gardening Night

According to several "Top Lists" for toys, good old dirt, sticks and water tend to come out on top. The folks at the Wooden Horse aren't afraid to clear their shelves of merchandise, cover their fixtures with a couple of tarps and pile up some worm-filled dirt and biodegradable material to discover what makes these wiggly creatures so awesome. Other nature-themed activities round out the evening of observation and discovery. Ages 4 - 10. Reservations required.

May 7, Wednesday: Arts & Crafts Night

If you joined The Wooden Horse in celebrating International Dot Day last September alongside more than 1.4 million people from 88 countries then you know of the satisfaction that comes from making something with your own hands. (http://www.thedotclub.org/) The "workshop" will be open from 7:15 - 8:15 p.m. with experts teaching a variety of take-home projects suitable for kids ages 4 to 10. Reservations required.

May 8, Thursday: Game Night

Re-discover a few of those great parlor games you once played as a child, that are as fun today as they were then. Discover new board and dice games which challenge, entertain, and help kids develop important skills of strategy and cooperation. All kids ages 4 to adult are invited to come and play with them from 7:15 - 8:15 p.m. Reservations required.

May 10, Saturday: Play Day

The employees of Silicon Valley's Favorite Toy Store pull out all of the stops for their afternoon of activities in front of the store. Tables overflowing with art and science activities line the sidewalk for an afternoon of discovery. Activities will be ongoing from 1 - 4 p.m. Employees practiced in the art of Glitter Tattoos will be on hand to impress you with their sparkly creations. No reservations needed. All ages welcome. 


Keep a Journal of your activites ==> Get a Reward

What will you do instead of watching TV? Pick up a special Screen-Free Journal Page in their store or download one from their website, www.woodenhorsetoys.com, and record your Screen-Free activities. If you make it through the whole week without watching TV, and reduce your screen time to "homework only" activities, be sure to fill out a Journal Page and exchange it for something special at The Wooden Horse!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?