Hockey star turns to inspiring kids
Black Sticks star Gemma Flynn has stepped off the hockey field and into schools to help Kiwi kids get active.
Flynn has teamed up with rugby great Cory Jane to lead the classroom-based AIA Healthy Kids Challenge, which attracted more than 15,000 registrations within only two weeks of its launch last month.
The project combines technology and athletes to motivate and educate primary school children and their parents to lead healthier lives.
Each child gets a free pedometer to count the number of steps taken every day, and also gets to create his or her own unique avatar.
The programme records each class’s daily average steps, giving them the opportunity to win prizes, including AIA sports grants and Huawei Tablets for their school.
The children’s journey will be captured in a virtual online world their avatars as they work together to unlock new destinations.
As children complete each leg, they’re shown an animated video of their avatar exploring each new place with Flynn and Jane, and other New Zealand sporting stars.
They also learn about the history and culture of the countries they “visit”, and get health tips on the way.
“It’s a wonderful initiative that brings people together and encourages quality family time,” said Flynn, who has a degree in sport and exercise science from Massey University and runs her own health and wellness business.
“It [is] a fun way for families to be active together and, importantly, it sets manageable goals.”
She said parents faced many challenges when it came to growing healthy, happy, resilient children.
“People’s lives are busier than . . . it’s often a struggle to get the ‘eat, move, sleep’ balance right. It helps to have good tools.” — Jamie Morton