Screen-free fun focus of HUB’s Healthy Kids Community Challenge

The HUB Family and Child Care Centre hosted more than 50 children at its Healthy Kids Community Challenge Thursday morning in Benson Park in Picton.

Staff focused on bringing awareness of the benefits of reducing screen time for children through various fun, and simple activities – the highlight of which was the water curtain provided by the Prince Edward County Fire Department. The challenge was the second of the summer as the first was enjoyed by children in the Wellington area earlier this month.

“We want to show it doesn’t take a lot of money to have fun,” she said. “and remind of the simple things we can do away from screens,” said Tiffany Struthers, part of the HUB’s Early On program.  “It also promotes that you don’t necessarily have to be part of a sports team to get out and be active.”

Activity centres also included sponge water bombs, sidewalk chalk, hop-scotch, building blocks, and a tunnel. A scavenger hunt featured painted rocks based on the popular PEC Rocks campaign where people are invited to paint stones and place them throughout the community for others to find, keep, or re-hide.

“The plasma cars are also popular,” Struthers said. “We come here for playgroup every week and the kids use their muscles taking the cars up and down the ramp.”

Healthy Kids Community Challenge funding was provided through Hastings Prince Edward Public Health to help cover costs of healthy food snacks and screen-free kits and prizes distributed at the events which included items such as balls, skipping ropes, flying discs, children’s books and activity books.

The Hub Child Care Centre Picton site is located at 10 McFarland Court, Picton and is open Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Centre has licensed child care spaces for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and JK children. Extended hours, and subsidies are available. Contact Margie McConnell at 613-476-5566, or email margiem@thehubcentre.ca for details.

The Hub Child Care Centre at Massassauga Rednersville school is also available. Contact Stacey Stanford at 613-503-1334, or email staceys@thehubcentre.ca

Home Child Care programs:
The Hub offers families flexible days and hours; caregivers who meeting Ministry of Education guidelines; licensed homes in small group settings (maximum of six children).
Caregivers are located throughout the County. Contact Mariann Cretney, Home Child Care Co-ordinator/Home Visitor for details. Call 613-476-8142 or email mariannc@thehubcentre.ca

Register now for fall programs at Picton and Wellington! Call 613-476-8142 for details.