News - News releases
April 19, 2010
Statewide event encourages youth to turn off the screen and play outdoors
HERSHEY, Pa. – Numerous studies have shown that excess television time can adversely affect a child's school performance, activity level, and weight. In an effort to reduce the amount of time children spend in front of the screen - TV, computer or video games – schools throughout Pennsylvania will celebrate Move it Outside Day on Wednesday, April 21.
Now in its third year, Move it Outside, a program of the Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital, is held annually in April during National Turn off the TV Week. By promoting outdoor play as an alternative to screen time, the Center hopes to reduce the nearly 1,023 hours children spend in front of the TV per year and increase children's activity levels.
Donna Kephart, Center interim executive director, explains, "By promoting outdoor play at school, after school and at home, we can help children build active, healthy bodies and increase physical activity levels—one important strategy in ending the childhood obesity epidemic."
During the 2008-09 school year, 340 schools engaged more than 120,000 students in Move it Outside activities such as field day; Frisbee® golf, bowling and baseball; Ultimate Frisbee®; and Turn off the TV week pledges.
This year's Move it Outside celebration is funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Through Get Outdoors PA, DCNR connects families to outdoor activities taking place in Pennsylvania's state parks.
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The Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital is committed to improving physical activity and healthy eating behaviors for youth and families across the Commonwealth by providing and education materials to youth and families; sponsoring outreach efforts and events; and conducting research evaluate behavior change around the topics of physical activity and nutrition among youth and their families. For more information about the Center and its initiatives, please visit www.nrgbalance.org.
“The stellar interaction between the Center and administrators at six PA public schools led to a very successful week-long health ride. I enjoyed working with the Center and would highly recommend them as partners in any future projects.”
