Students will be encouraged to turn off the television and tune into their imaginations as part of international ?Turn Off TV Week?.

The Bermuda Reading Association is joining the effort to encourage people, especially students, to turn off the television and ?tune into life? from April 19-25.

The Bermuda Reading Association said this is a particularly important effort especially since too much TV watching has been linked to child obesity and diabetes and is mentally unhealthy for children.

The Book Mart and The Bookcase will be offering discounts to patrons who announce they have turned off the TV. Prizes donated by Scolastic, Al-Mil, True Reflections and others will be awarded to the schools with the highest student participation.

The Department of Education, the Bermuda Youth Library, the Bermuda Union of Teachers, the Bermuda Library Association, the National PTA, Phi Delta Kappa, and Sigma Gamma Rho sorority are among the organisations joining in the effort.