Kids take up the Let’s Just Play challenge

North Shore Kids take up the Let’s Just Play challenge

Two North Shore kids have been selected by Nickelodeon and Anchor Calci Yum to take part in the Let’s Just Play challenge. For the next six weeks, Nickelodeon will follow their progress as they get physical and talk to healthy eating experts to improve their lifestyle habits.

12 year old Ella McCalmont goes to Takapuna Normal Intermediate. Ella has impressively vowed to stop eating biscuits as part of the Let’s Just Play challenge. Her idea of a perfect Saturday includes getting together and dressing up with her friends. “We would go for a bike ride around Takapuna finishing with a great sleepover with singing and dancing!” She and her friends also like hoola hooping, playing handstand games and doing rollie-pollies as a way to keep fit and challenge one another. Ella is also helping to get her family healthier through the Let’s Just Play challenge. “Well my brother plays a LOT of computer games. He does do Tai Kwon Do but I think he needs to get off the couch,” she explains.

Kyran Joyce is 10 years old and a future pro-wrestler. When asked what nutritious foods he eats, he says, “I am pretty good at eating fruit and vegetables, though maybe I will try peas…(maybe!).” He lives in Red Beach, Whangaparaoa and goes to Orewa Primary School where his favourite subjects are PE and Art. Kyran’s idea of a perfect Saturday is to hang out with his mates, shoot some hoops, drop some wrestling moves and play a bit of backyard soccer. He’s also an aspiring surfer. Kyran’s hoping the Let’s Just Play challenge will help his family exercise together by taking their dogs for a walk and wants to learn about new sports.

Over the next six weeks, Nickelodeon will show viewers how Ella and Kyran are getting on with the Let’s Just Play challenge by screening a series of vignettes (short features) tracking their progress.

The Let’s Just Play Challenge culminates on Sunday December 2 in Devonport from 11am-3pm at the Windsor Reserve (following the Devonport Santa Parade). Everyone’s invited to come along and join in the range of activities including dance, sports, games, an inflatable obstacle course, meet their favourite Nickelodeon characters and of course fuel up for the day with delicious Calci Yum.

Nickelodeon NZ (SKY Channel 41) will be switching off its programming for two hours to co-incide with this event and to encourage kids to get outside and get active. In place of normal programming, Nickelodeon will screen a short rotated reel, free of advertising.

Let’s Just Play is a first for New Zealand and part of a worldwide Nickelodeon initiative, supported locally by partner Anchor Calci Yum. The campaign will hugely benefit from the wealth of nutritional knowledge Anchor Calci Yum brings to it.

Let’s Just Play celebrates the fundamental joy of ‘play’. It gives kids simple ideas on how to get active suggesting creative games they can play in their backyard. Kids will also be asked to submit their own game ideas and healthy recipes. Information on healthy choices and ideas for fun play activities will feature on-screen and on the Nickelodeon website www.nicknz.co.nz .

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