| Worldwide Day of Play September 24, 2011
National PTA® and Nickelodeon are also collaborating on Worldwide Day of Play, an initiative that encourages kids to go outside and play. On September 24, Nickelodeon will suspend all programming and go dark all afternoon. On this day, thousands of schools and community organizations will be hosting events engaging kids in physical fitness around the world. In 2010, more than 100 PTAs held events and activities to encourage families to be active together.
Nickelodeon is also helping kids kick-off
their efforts this summer by participating in the President's
Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition’s PALA Challenge. To complete the Challenge, kids need to be active 60 minutes a day, five days a week, for six out of eight
weeks. Log onto Nick.com/thebighelp to
take the PALA Challenge, log fitness efforts, access resources
and receive a signed certificate of accomplishment from the President
upon completion.
National PTA and Nickelodeon have partnered to
create resources for you: free posters, an activity guide and
grants to support your projects. Visit TheBigHelp.com to register your event and be a part of the success story for the PTA, Nickelodeon, and families everywhere. Questions, contact PublicAffairs@Nick.com.
 Beyond the Backpack
Beyond the Backpack is a new pro-social initiative from Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer that champions overall school readiness for preschoolers on their biggest adventure yet--going to school. Just as Backpack helps Dora prepare for new adventures, Beyond the Backpack provides parents with tools and resources to help kids prepare for a well-rounded, positive experience as they enter kindergarten.
The campaign is designed to call attention to the emotional, physical, experiential, and actual competencies that preschoolers need for those first, crucial steps into school, including: social skills and emotional intelligence; early literacy and math skills; in-school involvement and resources like school supplies; and health and wellness basics.
Through the initiative, National PTA and Nickelodeon have created a kindergarten readiness quiz, a toolkit for parents and families that will give them the tools they need to help their child be ready for kindergarten (see below), a public service announcement, and joint outreach efforts that will impact thousands of families nationwide. For more information, visit BeyondtheBackpack.com.
National PTA and Nickelodeon are partnering with iTunes for Dora's Beyond the Backpack! During the back-to-school season, all proceeds from episodes purchased from the Dora The Explorer Beyond The Backpack collection will be donated to National PTA to support the educational success of children. Get involved with the five festive episodes in which you can lend a hand for the big Backpack Parade, help your team win the Super Adventure Race, and celebrate friends helping friends!
 The Big Help
Through The Big Help, Nickelodeon will award $1M in grants to schools and community organizations enabling kids around the country to achieve the goal of a million acts of help. The Big Help Grant Program will support projects that inspire kids to (1) take care of the environment; (2) lead active, healthy lives; (3) engage in community service; or (4) improve their educational experience. As a partner on this effort, local students can team up with their PTAs to apply for funding to support a project to improve their communities. For more information, visit the resources section of Nick.com/thebighelp.
 ParentsConnect.com
Nickelodeon’s ParentsConnect.com provides daily tips, recipes, activities, and expert (but nonjudgmental!)
parenting info, baby names and their meanings, and
family-friendly resources offered in local communities.
On ParentsConnect.com, parents share their expertise by submitting their own tips, local activities, crafts, recipes, photos, war stories, comments and ratings. Register with the site to spread the word about local PTA information and events to other parents in your community!
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