Firstly apologies for the massive gap since my last Blog.
I do have an excuse! I've been on Brownie Pack Holiday!
And it actually fits in rather nicely with the today's hot topic involving children and the media - obesity.
The media are frequently blamed for our nation's ever-expanding waist bands.
Whilst advertising fast food, and promoting couch-hogging as an afternoon activity are obvious ways in which the media can be seen to play a part in childhood obesity, children's television can also be used to promote healthier lifestyles.
Here I return to one of my key 'mantras' of children's television.
Show children what life has to offer!
Show them the challenges, and they will seek them out for themselves.
Last week my Brownies were abseiling off towers, wriggling through man-made caves, and firing bows and arrows.
What they were also doing was burning a heap of calories, but if you asked them the purpose of their activities, they would have told you 'fun'.
Healthy activity can be fun - you just need to show kids that it is.
That's where shows like Blue Peter, my holy grail of children's tv, come in.
When the presenters run marathons, or go sailing or dancing, kids want to follow them.
All we need to do to to reduce the negative links between media and child obesity is to increase the number of active, insiring children's programmes.
Living a healthy life does not mean living a boring one, or one without tv!
No comments:
Post a Comment