National TV Turnoff Week is an annual event aimed at reducing or eliminating the amount of time spent watching television. This initiative focuses on spending more time engaging in physical and creative activities instead of sitting around as a couch potato.

Turning off the television for seven full days helps participants realize that life without television is not torture and may actually be more fun. Individuals, children, families, students and groups are encouraged to switch-off or unplug their televisions for an entire week to instead engage in a wide range of substitute activities.

The TV Turnoff Network estimates the number of minutes per week that parents spend in meaningful conversation with their children in around 38.5, and the number of minutes per week that the average child watches television is around 1,680.

As parents, we need to spend more quality time engaging in different activities with our children. So many of our children are overweight and obese, reducing the amount of time spent sitting in front of a television may help encourage our children to be healthier.

Some alternative activities for children and families include:

• Go ice skating or roller skating

• Visit the zoo

• Go swimming

• Read a book

• Plant something

• Go camping (even if it is in your backyard)

• Take a nature hike

• Play cards

• Learn to cook

By involving the whole family in different activities both adults and children will benefit. As a family you will be able to reconnect, become more active and focus on healthy habits.

Cooking with your children is a great way to reconnect. Teaching children to cook is important. Children who cook something new are more likely to try what they have cooked, because they have worked hard, and they know what ingredients went in to the food.

The Eat Smart New York program is a free program for eligible participants, designed to help them eat better, feel better and do better. The program includes lessons on different topics including keeping food safe, getting more food for your money, making smart choices, reducing fat and reading labels to name a few. After each lesson the class begins to cook. If the lesson included reducing fat in foods, the class would cook a low-fat meal that they would be able to cook in their homes in the future.

Official sign-ups for the cooking classes have been taking place from noon to 4 p.m. Fridays and from noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays, at the P&C in Auburn.

Sign-ups will continue through April. To find out where to sign up in May, call Cornell Cooperative Extension at 255-1183 and ask for Becky Johnson.

Here in Cayuga County the Eat Well Play Hard program is focused on reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity.

Obesity in children can have adverse effects on their health as adults. The program encourages families to focus on increasing age-appropriate physical activities for at least 60 minutes a day, increasing intake of fruits and vegetables, increasing intake of low-fat and fat free dairy foods. The Eat Well Play Hard program sponsors and attends many community events, usually incorporating a fun activity for children and families to participate in. If you have any questions, call Sabrina at 255-1183.

By making small changes in your family's daily activities including limiting the amount of television time, cooking healthier foods and engaging in physical activities, a parent can significantly reduce a child's risk for becoming overweight or obese and their risk for certain chronic conditions including developing diabetes in the future.

Type 2 diabetes, once known as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose), your body's main source of fuel. Type 2 diabetes is often preventable, but the condition is on the rise, fueled largely by the current obesity epidemic. We are seeing more young children being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which in the past was seen mostly in adults. It is important to know how to prevent Type 2 diabetes, but it is also important to know how to manage it.

The CNY Diabetes Prevention Partnership - Cayuga County Coalition is holding a diabetes workshop for people with Type 2 diabetes, their families and caregivers from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 3, in the student lounge at Cayuga Community College, Franklin Street, Auburn. A representative from A1C Champ will discuss measuring blood sugar levels and how to monitor them. Melissa Entemann, CDE will talk about “Supermarkets, Diabetes and You” and Michelle Dart, RN, MSN, CDE, will discuss “It's not easy being blue - Diabetes & Depression.” A representative from the American Diabetes Association will be available to answer any questions. To learn more about this program, call Suzanne at 252-4212.

Locally, there are some events planned for TV Turnoff Week. “Don't Sit In Front of the TV, Come Skate With US!” is Reva's event promoting TV Turnoff Week. Admission is $3.75 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. this evening. Admission for Wednesday, April 23, is $5 and includes a buffet. Wednesday's event runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. To learn more, call 252-8225.

Seymour Library has different events planned all week. You can call the library at 252-2571 or visit www.seymourlibrary.org to check the calendar for a listing of dates and times of events.

Visiting parks in the area is a nice way to enjoy the spring weather and participate in a different activity.

There are different parks in Cayuga County where you and your family could walk, run and bike the local trails. The Emerson Park Disc Golf Course is open and a fun activity for families to participate in.

If you would like more information on TV Turnoff Week, visit www.turnoffyourtv.com.

Elane Daly is director of Health and Human Services for Cayuga County. She can be reached at 253-1560 or cchealth@dfa.state.ny.us