More play - LESS couch time!
According to a recent report card presented by Active Healthy Kids Canada, in spite of the fact Saskatchewan is known for producing more NHL players per capita than any other province, Canadian children are getting a failing grade when it comes to leading active, healthy lifestyles.
For the first time, the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card looked at how Canadian child and youth physical activity stacks up against 14 other countries.
If the numbers are right, we are performing poorly in a number of areas and we're lacking the push to get our kids out and active.
Interestingly enough, Canada is among the top countries for having well-developed physical activity infrastructure and programs, but trails at the back of the global pack for overall physical activity levels. In other words, "we've built it, but why are they not coming?" In some cases, the report suggests, perhaps less is more.
"Our society values efficiency - we build more, do more and impose more structure - but perhaps this approach is somewhat misguided when it comes to getting kids more active," says Dr. Mark Tremblay, Chief Scientific Officer, Active Healthy Kids Canada, and Director of HALO. "A child's day is so structured that there is no room for free play or walking or biking to school. Having plenty of local playgrounds is important, but what if they never get used? To increase daily physical activity levels for all kids, we must encourage a mix of opportunities, such as organized sport, active play and active transportation."
Remember the good 'ole days of hop scotch, tag and hide and go seek? Free, healthy fun. Why not shut off the video games, televisions and computers this summer and just get out and play!?
