Traveling home from my sister’s house over Memorial Day weekend, we stopped at a McDonald’s for lunch. I grudgingly must admit that my kids love happy meals and are always thrilled when we can “have junk food for lunch”. I usually go to McDonalds on such occasions because the kids can get apples with their meals and we share an order of fries. At least there are some healthier alternatives if you want to make the effort. While I sat, studying a brilliantly colored happy meal bag, I noticed the words Get Up and Play an Hour a Day printed on the side of the bag. I winced at the thought of kids that sit around watching TV when not in school and only venturing off the couch for an hour each day. I couldn’t believe McDonald’s was seriously conveying the idea that one hour of play per day is an acceptable level of activity for a child young enough to be consuming a happy meal. A search in Google revealed that it’s not just McDonalds advocating this overarching fitness plan. The US Department of Health and Human Services originated the program and developed a video with Shrek characters in an effort to help eliminate childhood obesity. Most kids I’ve met, if they’re not watching TV, playing a video or sleeping, are actively playing. If I limited my kids to one hour of play per day, I can’t imagine what life would be like. They’d have to be in front of a screen nearly all the time. Is an hour of play per day what we should be aspiring to? I say no way. In addition to the video, a website has also been created where kids can access games and activities to teach them about healthier lifestyles. While the intentions here may be well-meaning, I find them to be feeble at best. As adults, do we really think that putting our kids in front of digital media that tells them to eat right and exercise will change their lifestyle? I’ve been sitting with my kids while they watch the Disney channel and I often see ads that come on between shows and prompt the viewer to get up and dance around, stretch and shake a leg. These ads are attractive, clever, musical, and catchy and my kids are totally engrossed watching them—without moving a muscle. Parents are the ones that can make a difference in a kid’s lifestyle. A kid can’t make healthy choices at meal time if unhealthy choices are available and considered acceptable by the adults present. Kids will eat well and get enough exercise when the adults in their lives provide good nutrition and limit their screen time. I don’t know how to solve the problem of childhood obesity but I feel strongly that the grown-ups have the power to make a huge difference. We can’t simply put our kids in front of digital propaganda and hope that things will change. | 
