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Play! Run, Walk, Dance …
September 24 is World Wide Day of Play
September 15, 2011
What do your pals at Nickelodeon television, First Lady Michele Obama, members of the NFL, and Gamecock athletes have in common?
They want us to play!
That's right. They say we should walk, run, ride a bike, dance, swim, take a hike, roller skate, garden with Grandma (or Grandpa), jump, jiggle – well, we get the picture.
Playing helps us have good health, keeps us happy, helps us learn, and, besides, it's just fun. It's so important that Nickelodeon television is turning off its programming for part of Saturday, Sept. 24, so that children and their families and friends can play.
That's when the World Wide Day of Play will be held. The Sept. 24 event is designed to bring attention to the problem of overweight and obesity among America's children and to get youth and families moving! The event is sponsored by Nickelodeon, NFL Play 60, Let's Move (First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign), National Parks Federation and others.
In the week leading up to September 24, the Arnold School of Public Health will send representatives of its popular GoodBodies program into area schools for early morning activity/play. USC athletes will be involved in after-school programs at some city parks to lead young people in "Gamecock Workouts." These efforts are designed to encourage children, ages 5 – 14, to be active September 24 by themselves or with their friends or families.
COMING SOON "Weeks of Play"
After the Day of Play on September 24, children and families are encouraged to be active over six of the next eight weeks (September 26 – November 19). Locally, children will have the opportunity to fill out logs about their activity and submit to USC's Arnold School of Public Health, along with a short story about their activity and how the "Weeks of Play" impacted an interest in play among their families, friends or schools.
First, second and third place prizes will be awarded.
The Weeks of Play winners will be honored at a USC Women's Basketball game.
A framed certificate for the award winners will be presented at their schools.
Children also have the opportunity to fill out activity logs and submit to Nickelodeon for a certificate. Complete information about the national event is at: http://www.nick.com/thebighelp/road-to-wwdop.html.
Return here on Monday, Sept. 26, to learn more about the "Weeks of Play" and how you can enter this contest!
