Among other healthy programs designed to get kids to pay attention to what they are eating and how much they are exercising, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York has created a “Healthy Zone Game Show”. The kids’ show will air on local channel WBBZ-TV starting November 30.
The premise behind the show is an interesting one. Of course kids love TV. A lot of kids watch more TV than they should. So what would happen if there was more “positive approach” programming that revolved around living a healthier lifestyle?
The 30-minute trivia game show pits teams of five students from third grade classrooms against each other on a game show set. The trivia questions and answers revolve around the topics of health and wellness. Students from the participating schools attended the show productions as part of a studio audience, while cheering on their classmates.
The shows have already been produced at Kleinhans Music Hall, and are set to premier on Monday, Nov. 30 at 6:30 p.m., and will continue to air every Monday at 6:30 p.m. with additional presentations on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. Episodes will air through Saturday, April 2, 2016.
“It’s our role as a community-based health plan to ensure young students are given the foundational building blocks they need to lead a healthy lifestyle,” said Dave Anderson, president and CEO, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. “This program teaches healthy habits in a fun and engaging way, and the Healthy Zone Game Show engages family members and the community.”
Along with developing the show as part of its “Healthy Zone” programming, Blue Cross Blue Shield also handed out “Healthy Zone Activity Kits” to more than 135 third-grade classrooms. Inside the kits, students found nutrition charts, fitness dice, jump ropes, pedometers, exercise bands, super-sized teeth for brushing, and prompt cards – all developed to teach kids about leading a healthier lifestyle.
“Practicing a healthy lifestyle helps children to succeed in school,” said Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash. “Healthy bodies support healthy brains and better learning. I encourage our students to take the lessons they learn home and incorporate healthy lifestyles into their family routines.”
The issues associated with overweight children and obese children continue to escalate. As our overweight youth grow older, related medical issues follow them throughout their lives. It’s important that young people learn early on that there are readily available alternatives to living a sedentary life and eating unhealthy foods. Hopefully the combination of the game show and the activity kits will help them to realize the positive attributes of leading a healthy lifestyle.