Put down your gadgets and pick up a book; that is just one of the messages Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society is trying to promote through their Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week taking place from Jan. 21 to the 27.
This weeklong event encourages students and families to reduce their amount of screen-time for one week including TV, video games, texting and computers.
Unplug & Play Passports have been printed for every elementary and middle school student in the district.
On each passport, there is a daily checklist to record screen-free activities and a schedule of events for families throughout the North Okanagan-Shuswap.
Children use an average of 7.5 hours of entertainment technology per day, says Literacy Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Findlay.
Some of the events in the South Shuswap include the Carlin Country Sliding Party, set for Tuesday, Jan. 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Carlin School.
The Carlin Parent’s Advisory Committee is inviting families from the area to join in the fun of an old-fashioned sledding party. Bring your own sleds. Hot chocolate and a warming bonfire will be on site for all.
Also at Carlin school will be a showing of Play Again, a documentary film that hopes to inspire families to take action to reconnect with the natural world.
The film is appropriate for ages 10 and up. Child minding will be available by donation for younger children.
There will also be a preschool storytime event at the South Shuswap branch of the Okanagan Regional Library on Wednesday, Jan. 23 beginning at 10:30 a.m. There will be stories and rhymes for the little ones and their families.
Also featured in the region will be buddy reading with the SilverBacks, family game nights, early years fair, family skating, family art afternoon, a free family swim, curling, along with many other fun-filled activities.
For more information, go to www.shuswapliteracy.ca.