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Monday, June 11, 2012
Grey Bruce Health Unit
Turn Off The Screens For Good Health

Almost 1300 students from 28 schools across Grey Bruce participated in the annual Turn Off The Screens challenge in 2012. These numbers are up almost 400 students over 2011. The 10th annual event ran for a full seven days between April 23 and April 29. During this week, students were encouraged to be more active by turning off the television, video games and computers and getting outside. Many students accumulated as many as 30 hours of physical activity during the week and many managed to remain screen-free the entire time.

The following schools had the greatest student participation:
  • Sullivan Community School (65% student participation)
  • Dundalk and Proton Community School (52% student participation)
  • Elgin Market Public School (46% student participation)

Honourable mention goes to the following schools with at least 33% student participation:

  • Lucknow Central
  • Brant Central
  • Kinghurst
  • Keppel-Sarawak

According to Canada’s 2012 Physical Activity Report Card, only 7% of children are meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines of at least one hour per day. At lunch and after school, kids are getting only 24 minutes of active play time out of a possible four hours. Canadian children in Grades 6-12 are spending an average 7 hours and 48 minutes per day in front of screens.

Parents can help by being good role models and by following these strategies:

  • Limit television or video game time to one hour a day
  • Remove televisions from children’s bedrooms
  • Eat meals together with the television turned off

Media Contact:

Jason Weppler
Health Promoter
Grey Bruce Health Unit
519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext 1408
j.weppler@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca
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