There is no doubt that kids today are not as active as kids from years ago.  Kids play on-line instead of in the backyard.  Kids take a bus or are driven to school instead of walking or riding their bikes.  Kids get less time in “gym class” due to increased academic demands at school.

The number of inactive kids is on the rise; more than half of Canadian kids are not active enough to benefit their health. 

To address this health concern, Health Canada has produced a series of physical activity guidelines for Canadians - Canada’s Physical Activity Guides for Children and Youth with messages especially for parents, physicians, educators and those who work with children in the community. 

The Guidelines recommend:

• INCREASE the amount of time children/youth are currently active by 30 MINUTES.
• Blocks of at least 5 to 10 minutes at a time
• Over time, work toward 90 minutes of physical activity a day
• Moderate activity should be combined with vigorous activity
• Moderate = in-line skating, walking, bike riding
• Vigorous = skipping, running, playing soccer
• DECREASE the amount of time they are currently inactive (ie. watching TV, playing on the computer) by 30 minutes.
• Over time, work towards decreasing physical inactivity by 90 minutes per day

Resources are available to support children/youth and help them build physical activity into their lives.

Resources for Children (6-10 years of age)

• A Teacher’s Guide for teachers and those working with children
• A Family Guide for parents and caregivers
• An Interactive magazine for children called “Gotta Move”. The magazine includes games and activities to reinforce the message.
• A Tracking calendar and stickers to allow children to keep track, using stickers, of the activities they do each day

Resources for Youth (10-14 years of age)

• A Teacher’s Guide for teachers and those working with youth
• A Family Guide for parents and caregivers
• An Interactive magazine for children called “Let’s Get Active”. The magazine includes games and activities to reinforce the message.

Reliable Links

Childrens’ Guide:  http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/paguide/child_youth/children/index.html

Youth Guide:  http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/pau-uap/paguide/child_youth/youth/index.html