News Release                   For Immediate Release

June 3, 2004

Winners Announced in Turn Off the Screens Week Challenge

33 Schools in Grey Bruce participated in the 2^nd annual Turn Off the Screens Week challenge

Kids in Grey Bruce certainly know how to improve their physical activity – and they’ve been conserving energy at the same time.  2,451 participation logs were returned indicating that students shut off their computers, their televisions, and their video games in favour of more physically active pastimes.

According to Stacy Penfound, a Grade 5 student at Holy Family School in Hanover, participating in the Turn Off the Screens challenge was not difficult at all.

Stacy is the first- prize winner drawn from the 2,451 school age children from across Grey-Bruce who turned off the screens from April 19 to April 23, 2004.  Her prize is a $250 gift certificate donated by Grey Bruce Partners in Health.

“It wasn’t hard at all!  My sisters and I don’t usually watch television during the week anyway.”  When asked what she did instead, Stacy said she and her sisters played basketball, used the trampoline in the backyard and played card games with the rest of the family. “Oh, and I cooked supper.” 

Organized by the Public Health Unit, the Turn Off the Screens challenge is designed to get kids moving.  Today, more than half of children are not physically active enough for good health.  A recent study reports that one out of three children, aged 7 to 13, is considered either overweight or obese.

Increased reliance on television and technology and the diminishing priority of physical activity are cited by experts as major reasons for the growing number of inactive children and teenagers.  “The best way to cure your children of being couch potatoes is to cut back on screen time and make family physical activity first on your list,” said Public Health Nurse Betty Perkins.

“The new physical activity guide for children and youth recommends 90 minutes of daily activity – 30 minutes of vigorous activity, like running, and 60 at a moderate pace, like walking,” said Perkins.

Parents and schools interested in next year’s Turn Off the Screens challenge are invited to contact Betty Perkins, public health nurse, in Walkerton at (519) 881-1920 1-800-7714 or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.”

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Attachment:

Winners List

            GRAND PRIZE WINNERS

INDIVIDUAL PRIZE WINNERS: Frisbees and Skipping Ropes

WINNING SCHOOLS

For more information:

Betty Perkins, Public Health Nurse

Grey Bruce Health Unit

881-1920