Active Play Program celebrated
There was a small group of participants but a room full of enthusiasm and fun during an Open Gym evening at the Stockade on April 30.
The evening was a triple opportunity to celebrate fitness, as it was the wind up of the Active Play Program, and it was a fitness opportunity during the Motion School Challenge plus the Screen Free Challenge. The Active Play Program ran for 20weeks at Swift Current’s four elementary schools, rotating between each school in order to provide five-weeks of sessions Children enjoyed a variety of games and activities at the Open Gym night at the Stockade this past week. at each school between dismissal to 5:15 p.m.
The first-year program had full registration and a waiting list at each school.
“It is showing us that there is a need and a want for after school programming. Lots of parents on their comments said they would love to have it more than five weeks,” explained Val ChooFoo,
In Motion Community Facilitator and coordinator of the Active Play Program.
She said the strength of the program was provided by educational assistants from each school who helped out as leaders of the program, along with supports from other groups including the Cypress Health Region who taught program participants about nutrition and provided health snacks.
“A main goal of our program is to keep the kids physically active in a safe and supervised environment. But with the nutrition and wellness part it was kind of an allaround healthy environment. So yes they were being physically active, but they were interacting socially with other kids which is good for their mental and emotional state.”
Last Tuesday’s session was a celebration of the Active Play after school program and a chance to say thank you to their partners.
“Tonight was kind of a night to welcome the families back and to say come out and have fun, and to say thank you to our partnerships.”
Swift Current youth were also challenged to participate in the Screen Free Challenge Week, pledging not to watch television, play video games, use tablets, or text on cell phones. “It’s interesting because our society now we’re very dependent on electronics. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s just an awareness,” she said, adding that it is hoped that the week allows families to have a discussion on things that can be done as a family to avoid extra screen time.
“Screen Free Week, more than anything, is more about awareness and trying to connect as a family instead of going zero hours.”
Students are also excited about their annual participation in the in Motion School Challenge and are trying to build up fitness minutes in support of their school activity goals.
“It’s really interesting. You hear students in the street wondering ‘can I do this for my in motion minutes?’ or ‘I’ve got to get outside because I need more in motion minutes.’”