Monday, April 25, 2016
Elgin St Thomas Public Health
Unplug & Play Events Encourage Families to Step Away from Devices
The nice weather is finally here and with it comes the much anticipated yearly Unplug and Play weeklong event! Every year many Elgin County schools take time to bring awareness to the amount of screen time families’ use. They encourage families to increase their physical activity by turning off the screens and having fun. Families get the opportunity to take a step back and look at what their habits are around screen time and physical activity by filling out log sheets and returning them to the schools, sometimes for a small prize.
This year, area schools were offered an opportunity to “pump up” Unplug and Play with funding made possible by the Healthy Kids Community Challenge! Twelve schools that were interested are now able to use the money to promote Unplug and Play within the school as well as host an evening event open to the community.
Why is Unplug and Play so important? It brings awareness to an issue that is not getting better. In Elgin St Thomas, approximately 64% of the population is spending 15+ hours of leisure time each week on screened devices (CCHS, 2011-2012). This rate is on the rise. In 2007-2008, our local screen time rate was 51%. Also, only 55% of the population reported being active or moderately physically active during their leisure time (CCHS 2011-2012).
The good news is there is plenty that can be done according to Michelle Virdee, Public Health Nurse at Elgin St. Thomas Public Health. “I have seen firsthand what can be accomplished when communities of schools work together for a common goal. The Aylmer schools have been running this event for the last 14 years with little to no money. It really is just everyone opening their doors and saying ’this is what we can offer’. The key to their success is teacher Penny Hilliker at McGregor Public school. Hilliker organizes the meetings once a year via email and provides the schools with tickets to distribute to families wanting to participate. She is passionate about healthy living and an amazing community partner”! Hilliker speaks of the week fondly saying, “I’ve been involved for a dozen years, and it was a thing already when I jumped in. Turn Off the screens/Pause to Play/Unplug and Play....whatever you call it, it has become an anticipated event for many families. Some families participate in multiple events; others choose an evening or two, whatever works”.
But Hilliker doesn’t’ do it alone. Hilliker notes “Champions in schools and community partnerships continue to offer awesome events at no cost. I’m excited that we have several new schools coming on board this year and hosting events. The more, the merrier! I applaud the effort of folks who see the benefits of physical activity and building relationships – everyone does a part to energize the community.” Private schools, Public schools, Cy’s Bowling, the library and the local arena have been on the roster for years.
This is not just a school event in the East schools anymore, it is a community wide weeklong event that inspires families to spend time together and have fun while bringing awareness to living a healthy lifestyle by monitoring screen time. The hope is to encourage other area schools to follow the same model that has been successful, with no money but a great deal of heart, for over a decade in Aylmer!
So this week, while families are enjoying the nice weather and some Unplug and Play events, please keep in mind that The Canadian Physical and Activity Guidelines recommend:
- Children aged 5-17 should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity daily with limited recreational screen time of no more than 2 hours per day,
- Children aged 2-4 should watch less than 60 minutes of screens per day and should accumulate at least 180 minutes of physical activity at any intensity spread throughout the day,
- Children 1 year and younger should not have screen time and should be physically active several times daily.
To learn more, please visit Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines and www.elginhealth.on.ca.
Media contact
Michelle Virdee
Public Health Nurse, Elgin St Thomas Public Health
519-631-9900 ext 1265
mvirdee@elginhealth.on.ca
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