Want to get your kids excited about good health? Check out the Cartoon Network’s Get Animated website! At Get Animated, kids are encouraged to get active, get healthy, and get involved with the community.
Get Animated is attached to programs like the American Youth Soccer Organization, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk for the Cure, Rescuing Recess, and Trick or Treat for UNICEF. These programs encourage kids to get up off the couch and get out and start doing things that are good for themselves and for other kids around the world.
The Get Active section of the site encourages kids to get active in fun ways — gather their friends to play sports, challenge their siblings to a bike race, or just dance like crazy in their bedrooms. The site suggests fun games like kickball, tag, and creating an obstacle course to get kids up and moving instead of sitting in front of the television all day long.
The Get Healthy section of the site goes through the new food pyramid, including the importance of being physically active every day. Kids are reminded to choose healthy foods and a variety of foods from each food group every day. My favorite piece of advice from the Get Healthy section isn’t just for kids: “You do not need to change overnight what you eat and how you exercise. Just start with one new, good thing and add a new one every day.”
In the Get Involved section, you can watch short videos and PSAs featuring your favorite Cartoon Network stars and find out a little more about the groups that are partnered with Get Animated, like JDRF, UNICEF, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
One of the partner sites is Rescuing Recess, a place for kids, parents, and teachers to learn a little more about the importance of recess in the school day. For kids, you can add your favorite recess activity to the list of games and print out a letter to mail to your school showing your support for recess. For parents and teachers, you can learn more about why recess is so important.
Read the Debate About Recess.