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 It may seem reasonable to assume that when the bell rings to dismiss students from school for the day, their activity levels go up. We would like to imagine them crashing through the doors and filling their free time with outdoor play and physical activity or at the very least, homework and chores. Yet in reality, 73 per cent of parents report that children are watching television, reading and playing computer and video games between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
This after-school time is a critical period for accumulating physical activity in children and youth. With more students engaging in the sedentary activities of a modern after-school lifestyle, it is easy to see why only nine per cent of boys and four per cent of girls meet Canada's physical activity guidelines. Being active for the recommended 60 minutes per day can help kids do better in school, improve their level of fitness, feel happier, maintain a healthy body weight and improve their self-confidence.
On a personal level, the solution can be simple. Children need active outdoor opportunities like free play, sport and active transport such as walking to and from school. In fact, kids who are outdoors after school take an average of 2,000 more steps per day than their indoor peers, the equivalent of walking an extra two kilometres.
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Read more... [One Step at a Time]
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Leaf Gathering
It’s that time of year where the trees are losing their leaves to the ground – which means it’s time to bring out those rakes. Get your children involved and rake the leaves into a pile and jump into them. Not only will your children be engaging in physical activity by helping rake the leaves, but it’s also a fun activity for the entire family to take advantage of in the beautiful fall weather.
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Read more... [Featured Activity]
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Active Living Tips
Strength training is great. However, it's easy for us to focus on the part of our body we want to improve (ex. chest or stomach), and forget other parts (like our back or legs). But to truly see the benefits and to maintain a healthy balanced body we need to incorporate strength training for all of our major muscle groups. Strive to incorporate exercises that address your legs, low back, upper back, chest, abdominals, arms and shoulder.
Active Living
