STUDENTS craving a departure from the doldrums and monotony of the school break have flooded a kids’ fun day aimed at banishing holiday boredom and increasing health awareness.
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More than 150 children and carers converged on Coledale’s Granny Munro Park yesterday where they were offered a variety of games and activities to stimulate their minds and stretch their legs.
Parents and grandparents welcomed the day, co-ordinated by the University of New England’s (UNE) student-led clinic based at the Coledale Community Centre, saying it got their kids out of the house, but more importantly, kept them out of mischief.
“They actually need more of these days,” Coledale resident and grandmother-of-two, Sue Bishop said.
“There is not a lot for the kids to do to keep them out of trouble during the holidays and this will give them guidance ... it will make a difference to them.”
Mrs Bishop said the kids looked forward to the change of scenery as it cut through the average day at home.
“They can play like normal kids and not be at home fighting with their brothers and sisters ... my children love it.”
The day’s physical events – three-legged races, games of touch, egg and spoon races and tug-of-wars – were all fiercely contested and punctuated by trips back to the cool of the shade, where kids could rehydrate or munch on a juicy piece of fruit.
UNE community project officer Zeta Knight said she tried for many years to kickstart a kids’ fun day for the community and hoped to build on yesterday’s success over the summer holidays.
“The kids are absolutely loving it and it’s great to see the parents are doing the activities with their children,” Ms Knight said.
“We are trying to motivate the community to keep active, healthy and fit and break down boredom ... I definitely want to do it again”
The clinic plans to extend its presence at the centre to three days a week by the end of the year, with pharmacy students about to join the drop-in network.
