Toys R Us gets SA kids off the couch
JOBURG - Toys R Us is urging youngsters in Joburg to get off the couch and become more active during the winter school holidays.
This campaign is aimed at contributing positively to their physical well-being following reports which revealed that more than 50 percent of South African children and youth were not getting sufficient exercise.
According to Durban fitness expert, Hayley Cassim who has worked in the fitness industry for more than 25 years with a particular interest in children, only seven percent of children aged between five and 11, and a further four percent of those aged between 12 and 17, get the recommended 60-minutes of daily physical activity of moderate to vigorous intensity.
Toys R Us is promoting learning and physical activity as equally as important as being entertained.
“Experts advise that participating in as little as 60 minutes of physical activity daily could contribute significantly toward preventing children from developing chronic diseases,” explained Cassim.
She warns that children who live sedentary lives run the risk of developing coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, strokes, osteoporosis and depression.
Although Cassim added that more physical education lessons need to be introduced at schools, she noted that physical play is also a good form of exercise.
She explained, “Kids are just not playing in their free time. Playtime has become screen time as opposed to active time.
“I definitely support any initiative that will encourage kids to be more active.”
Michelle Burke, marketing manager for Toys R Us South Africa, said the store is encouraging parents to opt for toys and games that promote physical and mental stimulation, particularly during the school holidays.
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