Nickelodeon tells kids to turn off the TV, go outside and play

by Brian White (Subscribe to Brian White's posts)
Oct 1st 2007 4:01PM

This almost sounds like a mistake: a TV network telling watchers to turn off the television to go outside and play. But, that is exactly what children's network Nickelodeon did this past Saturday in an effort to encourage kids to get some exercise in the annual "day of play" that many observed around the globe.

This is a great example of trying to do the right thing for kids of all ages. Television has been called the 'great babysitter' for ages, but there is no substitute for supervised play outside for the health and vitality of that growing child.

Did you participate in this last Saturday? The dead air began at noon PDT and the network featured the case history of a chubby kid who used to play video games and sit in front of the television all hours of the day. After joining the "Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge" program, the youth dropped 40 pounds (40?) learned to swim and ride a bike. Those are both excellent activities for youth fitness.

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Comments (66)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Andi 10-04-2007 @ 6:08AM

I think they've done this the last two years already, and it was either last year or the year before that they actually turned off their programming and just had a message telling kids to go out and play, I think it was through the whole afternoon.

Tina 10-04-2007 @ 6:21AM

I don't know if it worked for other kids, but mine tried to change the channel to the Cartoon Network, I told them no, go outside. If they can sit there and gaze at Nick any other time they want to watch Drake and Josh, or Icarly they can go outside and ride their bikes.

Jmack 10-04-2007 @ 6:28AM

Video games and the boob tube are one great reason that America faces such an huge obesity problem. When I was a kid, I was outside from dawn until dusk playing with my friends. We didn't have all the crap the kids have today. So, has our technology ruined us? Has it made us fat and lazy? You decide.

The kiddy networks have a good idea here, but one day a year? How about the kiddy networks sign-off and broadcast a few hours a day and let the kids go outside the rest of the day instead! Spongebob is funny, but he isn't that great...

'Day of Play'? A 'year of Play' would be much more benificial for fat children.

Linda 10-04-2007 @ 6:46AM

BRILLIANT MARKETING TO THE PARENTS ACTUALLY. IT WOULD ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO "LOCK OUT" THE OTHER CHANNELS ( DIS, CN, ETC ). ULTIMATELY, IT'S AN ADVANTAGE TO NICK---NOT JUST A TV STATION "DOING THE RIGHT THING".

bowtothax 10-04-2007 @ 6:48AM

It's funny how parents try to blame videogames or the tv as the cause of their childrens problems. Perhaps if the parents stepped up and actually acted as parents and said no to tv or videogames once in a while then there wouldn't be this problem. I'm 27 and grew up in the dawning of videogames (nes,snes,playstation,etc) and my parents didn't always let me sit for hours just playing them or watching tv.....they acted like parents.

HICKS 10-04-2007 @ 6:49AM

I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THE PRICIPLE OF IT, BUT IT WAS KINDA IRRITATING TO US. ALL WEEK MY KIDS ARE BUSY WITH SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT KEEP THEM BUSY...NOT TO MENTION HOMEWORK!!!! DURING THE WEEK THEY DO NOT GET A CHANGE TO ENJOY A LITTLE TV.

SATURDAY IS THEIR DAY OFF TOO!! IT'S PRACTICALLY MINES ONLY CHANCE TO REST, AND IF THEY WANT TO USE IT TO CHILLOUT ON THE COUCH FOR A WHILE, SO BE IT!! ACTIVITY IS NOT THE ISSUE HERE....IT'S UP TO THE PARENTS THEMSELF TO FOSTER THE INITIATIVE.

SO NEEDLESS T5O SAY MY KIDS WERE MAD, AND SWITCHED TO ANOTHER CHAnnel.

Mari Lou 10-04-2007 @ 6:51AM

I thought it was great!! My two grandsons went outside and played, it was a warm fall afternoon, and they slept so much better at nite. I wish more stations would do that. Kids spent to much time in front of the t.v. it is sometimes like pulling teeth to get them outside, or trying to get them to do something else.

tricia 10-04-2007 @ 7:02AM

Not that I agree with my kids being in front of the t.v. all the time and I certainly don't let them......people tend to forget when we where kids it was safe for us to be outside from dawn to dusk. That simply isn't true for our kids these days. Part of the reason the t.v. became the babysitter is mom could clean the house and still know that your kids where ok. That and latchkey kids if you where in front of the t.v. you weren't being snatched by some crazy person. Parents should have supervised playtimes outside with there kids it's a joint effort. :)

susan 10-04-2007 @ 7:04AM

I agree with JMack, I also stayed out until the street lights came on. I walked to school and home everyday, then walked to my friends houses after school came home for dinner and then walked back out and walked home for the night. I also had gym every single day something which schools today lack. Its such an easy thing to put back in the schedules too..Everyone complains but does nothing about it....I am guilty myself though, daughter has television and computer in her room, when she sits on the computer for a couple of hours, we tell her to get out of the CAVE and go out!!!

guesswho 10-04-2007 @ 7:26AM

It was a good idea. Theoretically. "Go on outside and play honey, just watch out for pedophiles, kidnappers and perverts in general." You cannot let your kids out of your sight, anymore. "Ride your bike, but don't go further than 2 driveways away before you turn around!" As for fat kids...there have always been kids that are fat. There have always been kids that are skinny. Take a good look around, people are just fuckin people. Always have been, always will be. It was a good idea, because it got Nickelodeon some attention.

John F.C. Taylor 10-04-2007 @ 7:33AM

I recall watching a lot of tv as a kid, but never had trouble turning it off. There was always fishing and other interests outdoors. That or reading. Reading has always been on my list of preferred activities. That's if you want to call it an activity. Kids, there's a whole world out there. Go fishing, play baseball, collect bugs, anything but sitting all day in front of the television.

lin 10-04-2007 @ 7:57AM

It's funny how everyone blames the tv or video games for their kids being fat. I totally disagree. It's all about portion control and what they eat. I've seen kids take 2 helpings and then have dessert on top of that. They are binging from not enough meals during the day and then overeating to compensate. I feed my kids meals both after school and dinnertime to curb binging on chips, cookies, fruitrollups, etc. Those things should be "snacked" on not eaten as meals. Everything in moderation, including tv, videogames, and EATING!
Skip the tv being "responsible" go take them to the park, the ocean, the lake, whatever!

Steph 10-04-2007 @ 7:50AM

in regards to JMACK's comment....it's not just technology that's made us all fat...back in the day 20 years ago when I was a kid, I never watched tv. I was always outside as well, playing football with my big brother and his friends and kickball and all the other things kids do outside....but I've always been overweight. Anyhow, it's not 20 years ago. I don't let my three kids outside without me. It's too dangerous outside nowadays. I don't have a backyard so unless I go outside with them, they don't go. And I can't be outside all day and run a household too. When's the laundry going to get done, food cooked, clothes cleaned, etc? It's not pratical to have children outside everyday when you're a single parent, at least until he redeploys, and be able to do everything that a mom needs to do as well.

Sheena 10-04-2007 @ 8:08AM

To Tricia, I don't think its that much more dangerous today than when we were kids. Its just that when we were kids, people weren't constantly made so aware of every little thing that may be out there and make us panic and paranoid.
I think times were just as dangerous back then (perhaps even more so because it wasn't made public and talked about all the time).

Sheena 10-04-2007 @ 8:08AM

adding to my previous comment: Ignorance is bliss. Sometimes what you don't know really may not hurt you. Just because there may be some predator waiting outside your door waiting to get your child the minute they go outside, doesn't mean there is. Now at least these things are made more public and in some places they are forced to move away from kids.
But if you go looking for things to be afraid of, no one would ever leave their house.

blackwellsmith 10-04-2007 @ 8:16AM

We literally turn off our satelite every Saturday and Sunday afternoons, so all of us enjoy the outside. The grandkids ride bikes, horses, go swimming, or just play in the dirt. The adults watch them and have a "real-life" conversation. We put the weekend as family days.

Rock 10-04-2007 @ 8:29AM

I do agree that children spend too much time indoors. Yes, when I was a child I ate my breakfast, went out to play - came back for lunch, went out again, came home for dinner -- AND I lived in NYC. Our parents didn't have to worry (until Son of Sam--the 70's) about us. How my generation's parents were years ago would be appalling to parents today. It is a different and scary world. Today I am a mother to 3 yr old twins. I do limit TV time and they are quite active. I understand how hard it is for parents to do activities because today EVERYTHING is supervised. I live in a nice suburb now. I still am afraid to go alone to the park with my toddlers for fear they will each run in a different direction and some pedophile is waiting in the woods! If you have a 5 year old out riding his/her bike or playing in the front yard unsupervised, the other moms are ready to call DYFS on you! It IS more of an effort to keep your kids active outdoors because as a mom, you have to be "ON" 24/7. Again, it is parenthood and you owe it to your kids to not to let them run amuck with twinkies and cookies all day and to get them some form of exercise. My daughter takes gymnastics and both she and my son are in a soccer program. TV can try to help parents by turning off programming, but it is NOT their job, it's ours.

garyd 10-04-2007 @ 8:41AM

The problem is too much homework, my nephew is in the 2nd grade and all he has time to do is homework. Teachers need to do most of the teaching in the school and they need to bring back recess....

Jim 10-04-2007 @ 8:42AM

I think Nick sent a great message, but to the parents, not the kids. It's up to the parents to send their kids outside and to turn off the tube.

Kellie 10-04-2007 @ 8:43AM

Television and video games aren't the problem. The problem is that when I was a kid, we could go outside and play by ourselves for hours in our neighborhood and come in just for meals and bed. It isn't safe anymore to let kids do this and there is only so much they can do in a small yard or driveway. I take my kids outside and supervise their play where I can check on them frequently, but I cannot do everything that I need to for a family of five and watch them outside for hours on end at the same time. Organized sports help, and I frequently stop at the playground for a bit whenever I can. I am fortunate that my children are healthy but I wish they could have the experiences I had as a child, the freedoms they never will.

Keep in mind...everything, from TV and video games to junk food is fine in the right proportions. Treats like these should be treats and healthful foods and activities the norm. Enjoy!