Press Release
The Northwestern Health Unit is looking for organizations that engage youth up to age 12 to register for theme four of the “Healthy Kids Community Challenge.”
“Theme four of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, ‘Power off and Play!’ focuses on reducing recreational screen time for children,” said Jaclyn Shewchuk, local project manager for the HKCC.
“Though screens can be used in an educational manner, much of the time spent using a screen is sedentary and can take away from other physical, cognitive, or social activities,” she noted.
This challenge will promote:
•staying within recommended screen time limits;
•putting screens away during important times of the day (i.e., sleep time, and meal and snack time); and
•replacing screen time with other activities such as physical, social, and educational ones.
Partnership and funding support of up to $3,000 can be provided to your organization.
Funds will be granted to support activities that reduce screen time.
Examples of eligible activities include classroom games, cooking classes, art classes, or a creation of a policy that promotes a reduction in screen time, such as not using screens as a back-up for outdoor play in the event of inclement weather.
To register, visit www.northweststrong.ca/healthykids and click on “Power off and Play!” under program themes.
The deadline to submit a proposal is Feb. 16.
The Healthy Kids Community Challenge is provided in partnership with the City of Kenora, and funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
