Families are being encouraged to replace screen time with play time.
Power Off and Play! is the fourth theme for the Timmins-Misiway Healthy Kids Community Challenge.
“It’s really a partnership of many different organizations working toward a common goal of increasing physical activity, getting kids to eat healthier, generally increasing healthy behaviours for children and making it easy for kids to choose those healthy behaviours,” said Madison Mizzau, project manager for Healthy Kids Community Challenge Timmins-Misiway.
In its second year, the program is funded by the Ontario government. In Timmins, Misiway Community Health Centre is the lead organization.
During the past phases, the initiative has installed outdoor fitness equipment and water bottle refill stations, hosted family cooking classes, and provided local schools with tower gardens, among other things.
“Now we’re looking at another component, which is screen time. A lot of children, and adults as well, as using devices more than they really should be. With Power Off and Play! it’s really encouraging kids and their families to get off of those devices and play outside more, read, do other activities that aren’t using screens,” she said.
Events supporting the theme will be held until the end of August.
The first one is on Family Literacy Day Jan. 27 at 10:30 a.m., when they’ll be set up at the Timmins Public Library.
Mizzau said Timmins Rock players will be there to read with the kids, and there will be games, puzzles, draws, giveaways and hot chocolate.
Beyond that, Feb. 17 to 24 there is an Amazing Race event with free activities for children.
She said they are also working with the YMCA to get outdoor community play boxes.
“They’d be located in several parks and full of sports equipment, things that you can just go to the box and you’d have that to play with at the parks,” she explained.
To stay up-to-date on everything that all the activities in the final phase, follow HKCC Timmins Misiway on Facebook.
