Power off and play.
That's the message the City of Greater Sudbury is hoping to send to youth through launching its newest Healthy Kids Community Challenge. The idea is to encourage kids and families to build a balanced day by replacing screen time with more physical activity.
Kate Barber, Children Services Planner at the City of Greater Sudbury and one of the organizers of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, said there's no denying screen time will be part of most children's daily lives, but they want there to also be social and physical activities and lots more fun.
“Anyone who has children knows the challenge that is mobile devices and getting kids to put them down,” she said. “There's just so much fun to be had on them.”
There are recommendations from the Canadian Society for Exercise and the Canadian Pediatric Society's on how much screen time children should have each day.
For children under the age of two, no screen time is recommended. For children between two and four years old, there should be no more than one hour per day, whereas, for children between five and 17 years of age, it should be no more than two hours of recreational screen time a day.
“We know that, on average, Canadian children spend about seven and a half hours of screen time per day,” said Ariella Zbar, associate medical officer of health, Public Health Sudbury and District (formerly Sudbury and District Health Unit). “Watching for more than two hours a day already doubles your chance of being obese or overweight, which comes with its own set of short and long-term health impacts that go well beyond childhood and into adulthood.”
Power Down and Play is the fourth theme for the Healthy Kids Community Challenge. It was launched Friday at Delki Dozzi Park with a skating party and healthy snacks.
On Saturday, the city is hosting Snow Day at Bell Park near the Grace Hartman Amphitheatre, a free outdoor family celebration between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Activities include snowshoeing, hiking, storytelling, pony rides, sledding, a petting zoo, snowboarding, a maze and much more. A warm-up area, equipped with change tables and nursing stations, will be available for families with babies and young children.
Kina Gbezhgomi Child & Family Services will offer a campfire for warmth, and to provide a comfortable place for storytelling and bannock making. Free nutritious snacks and plenty of water will be available throughout the day.
Transportation to Bell Park will be free of charge aboard Greater Sudbury Transit when passengers inform the bus operator they are attending Snow Day. Free sleds, helmets and equipment for activities will be available for loan at the Bell Park entrance.
