Parents across New Zealand ask themselves time and time again: How do I stop my young ones from sitting on a device all day and maintain an active and healthy lifestyle come the school holidays?
A study from Otago University last year revealed that, on average, Kiwi children were in front of screens for 23 minutes of every hour outside school time.
High rates of screen time also raised health concerns because they displaced activities like active play and sleep.
But the school holidays can be a great time for the whole family to introduce new healthy habits and activities.
Harvey’s in-school Young and Healthy Virtual Adventure is a classroom-based online programme that teaches over 20,000 students a year how to stay healthy.
Sports superstars like Kane Williamson and Ardie Savea appear in cartoon form to set good examples to the classes' virtual avatars, who take part in challenges that teach them about real-world healthy habits.
While the programme is limited to schools, its effects go beyond the classroom and end of term.
“It’s all about and finding a way to encourage our young kids to implement healthy action into their day,” she said.
“It could be getting them to move more often, drinking more water, eating fruit and veges, or putting down their device and going and doing something different. All of the things that they’re focusing on are based around the things they can choose to do,” Harvey explained.
Children then go on to implement these habits daily, like getting Mum and Dad to come on a walk with them after dinner and doing things as a family during the weekends.
One young lady even decided that, instead of using a device in the evening, she would go old school and play card games with her family.
Kim Harvey is the founder of the Young and Healthy Charitable Trust. Photo / MJS Visuals
‘Make a plan’: Top tips for healthy holiday habits
Harvey said the most important thing for promoting healthy habits was that parents were involved in their child’s activities when they could be.
“As parents, we need to do it with them. We need to model it and that’s often a challenge when you’re trying to juggle work from home or going to the office etc.
“My suggestion would be to make sure there are things that you can do with your kids if you’ve got a day where you’re at home with them, or you’re planning for when you’ve got time with them.”
Other tips included:
Taking regular breaks to help forge positive routines. Every 45 minutes, stop, have a break and get up to move.
Families can explore their neighbourhood and make the most of what they had available to them, from trees to nearby parks and recreational reserves.
Think about what the best choice of gift is for Christmas that encourages healthy behaviours. This can be things like skipping ropes or those sorts of active toys that don’t cost a lot.
There are some amazing new playgrounds that have been popping up all over the country and families can also check out local council websites for all of the free stuff that’s on because there’s loads.
Activities don’t have to be fitness related, it could be dancing, it could be climbing trees, it could be gardening.
Involve all members of the family in activities, from parent to grandparents.
Parents would be wise to explore their local area with their kids to find good outdoor activities. Photo / 123rf
Staying off social media
While general excessive screen time can be a challenge, Harvey agreed that social media also played a role in disrupting the mental and physical health of tamariki, particularly those getting into their teens.
“I think one of the biggest things from my perspective as a health and fitness type person is that the time that we get sucked into spending time on our device, and whatever we’re doing on it, is taking away from something else that our brain and body would rather that we do”.
Harvey suggested:
Positive non-screen or part-time screen hobbies like playing an instrument, geocaching, orienteering as ways to promote a healthier holiday.
Focusing on things that the brain and body thrive on, like active sports and activities.
Look at setting a limit for how much time is spent on a device.
Make sure families are aware of what their children are doing on social media and be aware of any unhealthy behaviours.
“I know that getting into that upper 9-12 kind of age group, there’s definitely children who are using social media and I know parents and teachers are concerned about it,” Harvey said.
“There is all sorts of really cool stuff that technology enables us to do, which is fantastic, but it’s really about breaking it down to what are the really important or valuable things and then taking that, stopping ourselves, and setting a time limit on how much time we spend on a device.”
Children's social media use is starting earlier and earlier. Photo / 123rf
Mitchell Hageman joined the Herald’s entertainment and lifestyle team in 2024. He previously worked as a multimedia journalist for Hawke’s Bay Today.
