Since 2006, the NFL and the American Heart Association (February is American Heart Month) have teamed up to inspire kids by providing fun and engaging ways to get physically active. On Wednesday, February 3, they launched the NFL Play 60 Kids Day, a day of action to inspire kids to get moving with their classmates, teachers and families inclusive of virtual, hybrid and socially distant classroom settings.
In addition to the online resources found at heart.org/nflplay60, the free NFL PLAY 60 app helps kids get more movement throughout the day. The PLAY 60 app allows users to control personalized avatars onscreen with their own physical movement. The app is available for iOS and Android devices.
However, the messaging goes far beyond one day. Getting active for 60 minutes a day is critical as kids who are regularly active have a better chance of a healthy adulthood, but only 1 in 5 children and adolescents get enough activity to meet the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans*. Physical activity is critical to improve immediate and long-term health for kids and their families.
I had the chance to sit down with Amaya Brannon, age 10, who is the NFL PLAY 60 Super Kid and asked her about her role as a Super Kid and how parents can help get their kids motivated to be physically active for 60 minutes a day.
Amaya had some great ideas on ways you can be active with your kids and how you can encourage them, whether you are the parent of a toddler or a teen. Even at the age of 10, Amaya gets it. She knows why it is important to be active and what can happen if you aren’t. She knows she has a platform to reach kids throughout the country and she is using it. Look for her at the start of the third period of the Super Bowl. She’ll be the one with the football!
