Cartoon Network wants your kids healthy
I know. I know. As parents we’re supposed to believe that major cable channels are only interested in turning our children into vacant zombies who want little beyond more TV time, and by the way, a dozen or more of the toys advertised during their favorite shows.
Well, I hate to burst that cynical bubble, but—wait. I don’t hate to burst the bubble with news like this. I love that Cartoon Network has appointed itself champion of preserving recess in our schools. Maybe they’re doing it for the good PR, and that’s fine. It’s still a worthy cause where they’re using their muscle and visibility (and yes, even their money) to promote something important. I love this even more than Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. And if you know me, that’s saying a lot.
You can read a great summary of the program thus far at Design Interact News, but here’s the upshot:
Child and Health Advocacy Groups Support Value of Daily Recess
Experts agree that playtime can be just as vital as classroom time to a child’s social, emotional and educational development. Yet in some schools around the country, children are not getting the chance to enjoy free time for energy rejuvenation, a needed break from intense studies and an opportunity simply to play with their friends. The goal of Rescuing Recess, part of Cartoon Network’s Get Animated program, is to recognize unstructured break time as an essential element of the school day and to connect educators, parents and kids as advocates to either keep and enhance existing recess or bring it back as part of the daily school curriculum.
Sound good? Get ready to love Cartoon Network a little more:
Rescuing Recess was developed with direction from an esteemed advisory board of leaders and policymakers in children’s health and education, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National PTA, NEA, NASPE, the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Hands on Network, New Leaders for New Schools, HealthMPowers, Sportime and the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). To date, Cartoon Network has pledged more than $1.3 million to help save recess through Rescuing Recess, which includes the initial letter-writing campaign this spring (which inspired more than 100,000 hand-written letters from kids to their state education policy makers), resources for recruiting volunteer recess monitors, recess kits that will be distributed to elementary schools around the country, research, and on-air public service announcements.
Get involved. Visit Rescuing Recess for resources, support materials, and even games for the kids. You can sign up for a free recess kit in preparation for the upcoming National Recess Week, which kicks off on September 18th.
Every parent with a child in public school needs to visit these sites and get informed. Hey, my local schools haven’t threatened to do away with recess. But I’m on the PTA, and I’ve seen the winds change ’round here quicker than you’d think is possible. I’m going to make sure I’m ready, just in case. Check it out.
And hey… thanks, Cartoon Network!