Excel By 5 announces new initiative to get children more active

Hattiesburg Excel By 5 is launching a new campaign to encourage families to put cell phones and iPads away during meals or other family activities.

Hattiesburg Excel By 5 is launching a new campaign to encourage families to put cell phones and iPads away during meals or other family activities.

By Charles Herrington

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - Hattiesburg Excel By 5 is launching a new campaign to encourage families to put cell phones and iPads away during meals or other family activities.

It’s all part of a new initiative called, “Reduced Screen Time.”

The folks with Excel By 5 talked about details Tuesday, during an annual Community Leader Breakfast at the Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center.

Educators say using too much digital media can negatively affect the development of very young children.

Parents are encouraged to try to interact with their kids in other ways.

“We would like to help share the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and help families understand what children are missing out on when they are on screens,” said Kathy Young, co-chair of the Excel By 5 coalition steering committee.

“Parenting is hard, so I love that this initiative that Excel by 5 is giving all parents and grandparents and caregivers, ideas and tools that we can all use,” said Ann McCullen, executive director of the Edwards Street Fellowship Center.

McCullen was one of about two dozen educators, business leaders and directors of non-profits who attended the breakfast.

Excel BY 5 will host several “play labs” in 2024 to help parents learn the value of traditional play activities for children.

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