Put down
those screens and get active outdoors – it’s time for the 2020 pause to
PLAY Challenge!
Running
from April 20 to April 24, the annual pause to PLAY Challenge
encourages students to put their TVs, gaming devices, tablets, cell phones, and
computers on pause and become more physically active.
This year’s
pause to PLAY Challenge encourages students to get active
outdoors by providing educators with curriculum-matched resources for outdoor
activities.
Exercise that gets your heart rate up has many health
benefits. Being active for at least 60 minutes daily can help children to:
•
Improve their physical and mental
health
•
Do better in school
•
Improve their fitness, grow stronger and
maintain a healthy body weight
•
Have fun playing with friends and feel happier
•
Learn new skills and improve self confidence
•
Alleviate social and academic stress
Also,
students who spend time in nature have been shown to improve academically, have
better attention spans, are more physically active, and are better able to cope
with everyday life. Nature can also help develop a child’s core observation and
problem solving skills.
How
Parents/Guardians can help:
•
Limit screen time - Screen time should be limited to two hours a day for children ages five
to 17; however, over 75 per cent of children are not meeting this
recommendation.
•
Eat together - Use mealtimes as a time to talk about your day or plan an activity you
will do as a family when you are done eating. Turn screens off during meals —
make meal time family time.
•
Offer fun alternatives to screen time - Often children watch screens because they don’t
know what else to do. If you want your child to turn off the screen, suggest
playing a board game, starting a game of hide and seek or playing outside. You
could also stock rooms with a TV, computer or other devices with non-screen
entertainment (books, toys, puzzles, board games, etc.).
For more
information, visit www.york.ca/pausetoplay, or email julie.anderson@yrdsb.ca or the York Region Public Health School
Services at schoolservices@york.ca
Register
To register a
class, please visit the Registration Link. Deadline for registration is Tuesday, March 31, 2020.