Media Release
July 19 2005
Kids’ Activity Personalities key to encouraging physical activity
Did you know your child has an ‘activity personality’ that could be the key to encouraging them to be fitter and more
physically active?
Research from Australia* has produced an Active Factor personality profiler that can help parents recognise their
children’s preferences and encourage them to participate in the types of physical activity they most enjoy.
The Active Factor profiler is available on the newly launched Go Kids! website www.gokids.org.nz. This online resource
provides a range of information for parents and caregivers. It has been created to support the nationwide children’s
physical activity initiative offered through after-school care and holiday programmes.
Go Kids! was developed by the National Association for Out of School Care And Recreation (NAOSCAR). The programme is
offered by 750 groups around the country and is estimated to have been used by 100,000 children since its launch at the
end of 2003.
The resource helps children of all ages and skill levels to enjoy fun physical activity when they are not at school.
www.gokids.org.nz provides information and resources to caregivers who are part of the Go Kids! programme as well as
offering a range of information for parents and activities for children.
For rainy days when children are stuck inside, the kids’ section has interactive games such as Scavenger Hunt and Time
Challenge, to get children moving around the house to collect items and race against their friends.
Recipes for Active Kids are another feature of the site, with winning recipes from OSCAR programmes featured alongside
recipes by well known nutritionist Jeni Pearce.
The Go Kids! programme and website are funded by The Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola Amatil NZ Ltd as part of their
support of healthy active lifestyles. As a community partnership, the programme is not branded or linked to marketing
activities.
National Association for OSCAR Chief Executive Murray Upton has welcomed the launch of the new website that will help
improve the quality of care provided by OSCAR programmes.
“NAOSCAR’s partnership with Coca-Cola has enabled us to provide a quality resource to OSCAR groups throughout the
country and countless children have benefited from the fitness programme,” he said.
*Research commissioned by the Australian Sports Commission with funding from Coca-Cola Australia, and carried out by the
University of South Australia.
ENDS