By Kate Day

Storytellers Tom and Sandy Farley will be performing at Linden Tree’s Children’s Recordings and Books as part of TV-Turnoff Week’s local events.

Los Altans, along with millions of other Americans, will be turning off their televisions Monday through April 30 for TV-Turnoff Network’s TV-Turnoff Week. Nine children’s stores in downtown Los Altos will be hosting events the evening of April 28.

The TV-Turnoff Network, a non-profit organization founded in 1994, promotes the belief that television is unhealthy for people and communities. More than 24 million people have participated in TV-Turnoff Week since 1995.

Linda Dodge, owner of Lin’s Toy Cupboard on State Street, said: “I’ve always wanted to do something for TV-Turnoff Week. I’ve noticed that if a child watches a lot of TV, he loses the ability of imagination play.

“This is about focusing on doing things together as a family, as when a TV or computer is on, communication is sometimes lacking.”

According to the TV-Turnoff Network, the TV is on for 7 hours and 40 minutes each day in the average American home, and that on average, children spend 1,023 hours per year watching TV but only 900 hours in school.

The organization hopes that TV-Turnoff Week will help people to “turn off TV and turn on life” by highlighting the other activities.

Lin’s Toy Cupboard will host a games demonstration 5-8 p.m. April 28 where representatives from games companies will be on hand to show participants how to play. The event will cater to children ages 2 and up.

Linden Tree Children’s Recordings & Books on State Street will hold a storytelling event for school-age children 7 p.m. April 28.

Tom Farley, one half of Spontaneous Combustion Storytellers, who will perform at the event, said: “Storytelling happened long before TV and continues to be practiced around the world. It has recently been renewed in North America as people realize that the prepackaged images of TV aren’t as exciting as if you hear the story being told.”

Families can be part of TV-Turnoff Week by participating in events at the following downtown Los Altos stores: Adventure Toys, All About Mom & Me, Art N Fun, Kids Only, Linden Tree Children’s Books, Lin’s Toy Cupboard, Marion Jackstons, Personalized Gift Shop and Young Villager.

All events will be held 4-8 p.m. April 28, For more information, visit www.losaltos-downtown.org or www.lindentreebooks.com.