Join United Way CSO for lots of family fun at this year's unplug and play week

It’s time to unplug and play! The United Way CSO invites you to take part in the 4th Annual Interior Savings Unplug and Play week.

From Jan. 20 to Jan. 27 families, kids, schools and communities are encouraged to turn off their devices and spend more time together.

The week of play will give kids around the Central Okanagan a chance to get outside, play together, be creative and become more aware of the endless opportunities for screen-free fun.

“We are excited to see Unplug and Play Week growing as a movement as the community learns more about the benefits of putting down their screens and turning toward each other,” said Amanda Turner, Early Years Community Developer with the Central Okanagan Early Years Partnership.

Research has shown that too much time spent on cellular devices and watching TV displaces time that children could spend on extracurricular activities like playing sports and reading.

The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommends that Canadian kids aged 5 to 17 should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity each day.

The Unplug and Play kickoff event will take place on Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Laurel Packinghouse located at 1304 Ellis Street. Throughout the day families and children will be able to interact with one another, have their faces painted, play games and be marveled by a magician. The kickoff event will be followed by a week of family fun activities that will bring your kids together!

Enjoy baby time where you bond with your baby through the power of song and rhymes, or unplug with Play-Doh and build your very own LEGO creation. There are plenty of fun-filled events and activities that your children are sure to enjoy!

“We recognize that screens and technology are part of the world today, and we want families to have the knowledge and skills to manage the healthy use of screens. Families left the kickoff last year with new activities, new games to try, new ways to use what you have at home to create a new fun experience, and a sense that parents and families are learning how to navigate this world full of technology together," added Turner.

If you are looking to unplug and play, Interior Savings, the Central Okanagan Success by 6 and the Partners for Literacy have put together a toolkit to use. They encourage after-school organizations, daycares, schools and families to use the toolkit as a guide for finding new ways to unplug and play.

For a complete list of activities and for more information about the Unplug and Play week visit www.unplugandplayweek.com.