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Nickelodeon is doing its part to promote physical activity in kids by going off the air for three hours this coming Saturday.The three hours of dead air will start at noon (EDT/PDT) as part of its “fourth annual worldwide day of play, an encouragement to kids to get outside and work on getting in shape. ”

Nickelodeon has created the Let’s Just play website that includes all sorts of information including challenges, progress tracker and message boards for kids.

I definitely applaud their efforts and message. The child obesity statistics in the US are appalling and something needs to be done to encourage our children to be more active.

I think it sends a mixed message though. Here is a popular TV network telling kids that for (only) 3 hours on one given Saturday, they should go outside and play. They are calling it a ‘day’ of play though—shouldn’t they be off the air for the entire day? Why do we need an official day of play anyway? Shouldn’t all kids be outside playing on a Saturday afternoon?

Even more frustrating, the website encourages the kids to come back to the TV from 3-6pm for the Spongebob marathon!

It’s a good start Nickelodeon, but I think you can do more.
Bottom line is that we all need to get outside and play a lot more than we do now.

In fact, I think I will take my kids and go outside to play right now!

Written on Friday, September 28th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Filed under facts.
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