Nickelodeon to Kids: Turn Off the TV!

The kids have a little over a month left of summer vacation; a time viewed by many as an opportunity to stay in the ac, veg out in front of the television and do nothing for the next few weeks.

One channel, however, is urging those lethargic kids to get off that couch, shut off the TV and be active. And it's a channel whose audience is devoted to the same age group they are shunning away.

The Nickelodeon network has teamed up with the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation to produce a special program entitled "Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge."

Marva Smalls, an executive vice president for Nickelodeon, explains the benefits of the Sunday night program, now in its third season. "Our whole mantra is about a balanced lifestyle. Part of a balanced lifestyle is not to spend all of your waking hours watching TV."

When the kids do watch television, they are encouraged to follow the lives of four youngsters from across the country who have improved their habits, embracing good eating and exercise routines. One kid convinced his family to switch from junk food to healthier food options, another got a better menu implemented in school, while yet another got her family and friends to incorporate an exercise program.

Viewers at home can participate in the "Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge" by signing up and creating their own changes for the better, while following the progress of the four participants.

The hope is to teach children a fit way of life. "Our hope for the outcome is we will have great traction in this movement, in this journey, to create the healthiest generation of kids among our audience," Smalls said.