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Family activity facts

Did you know?
Community based sport and recreation activities are much more frequently accessed by families with higher education and income.

What you can do:
Find out what recreation and sport opportunities are offered in your community. Talk to your local and provincial politicians about ensuring affordable opportunities are effectively promoted in all communities and that safe spaces for free play and social interaction are made available for children and youth so they are not violating local bylaws when they organize their own physical activities.

Did you know?
Studies indicate that students who participate in daily physical activity as part of their education performed better academically and reported higher test scores.

What you can do:
Speak to the principal about the daily physical activity opportunities offered in your school. Join your School Council or you Home and School Association to encourage and support the implementation of daily physical activity at your school.

Did you know?
Over one-third of Canadian children aged 2 to 11 were overweight in 1998/99, and of these, about half could be considered obese, according to a snapshot of childhood obesity from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth.
What you can do:

What you can do:
Talk to your school principal and the local community centre about the food choices in the cafeteria, snack bar or vending machines. Balance TV, video game and computer time for your child with active pursuits with family or friends. Talk to your school about the opportunities for physical activity your child has each day.

Did you know?
Health Canada has produced a Physical Activity Guide for Children and Youth that includes parents and teacher booklets that can support you in getting your kids active!

What you can do:
Access a copy of the guide on the Health Canada web site: www.hc-gc.caAsk your teacher or principal if they use the guide in your child's school. Ask you family physician if they provide it to other parents.

Did you know?
Children report the main reasons for participating in sport as having FUN, meeting or being with friends, and learning new skills.

What you can do:
Talk to the instructor, coach or teacher about how the program is managed to ensure a balance between instruction, unstructured play time and competition. Invite your child's friends to an active outing in the park, local community centre or even in your own home.

Did you know?
Across Canada, there are policies and programs in place that support physical activity promotion through the education, recreation, health and social service sectors. Many of these sectors are trying to do the same thing in isolation, and all feel challenged by limited resources.

What you can do:
Turn your school community into an active, healthy school community. Ask your local politician to call a meeting that brings together the various sectors to see how they can support one another by working together and sharing resources – money, facilities and people. Talk to your principal or school council and ask if they link regularly with community supports in public health, community health, recreation and social services to access programs and supports available in promoting physical activity. Champion a physical activity event or program that brings the school and community together.

Did you know?
Health Canada and Sport Canada, in partnership with all of the provinces and territories in Canada have developed a National Sport Strategy, a Sport and Physical Activity Act, and a Healthy Living Strategy.

What you can do:
Access the strategies from the Government of Canada web sites: www.gc.ca, and www.healthyliving-viesaine.ca. Ask you local and provincial politicians how these strategies are being implemented to increase physical activity opportunities for children and youth in your community.

Did you know?
Canada is hosting two major international games in 2010? The 2010 Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the 2010 Commonwealth Games will be held in Hamilton, Ontario.

What you can do:
Talk to your local and provincial politicians about how the resources used to support these events will help to enhance physical activity opportunities for children and youth in your community. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper encouraging the media to support the importance of grass roots physical activity opportunities in association with major sporting events. Organize fun physical activities with an Olympic theme in your family, school or neighborhood.

Did you know?
Children of active parents are more likely to participate in physical activity themselves and to continue involvement in an active lifestyle as they grow,

What you can do:
Find active things that you enjoy to be a role model for your kids. Build physical activity into family gatherings, outings and parties. Be active with your kids – they don't care if you do things well, they enjoy the focused time, attention and energy.

Did you know?
Across Canada, there are policies and programs in place that support physical activity promotion through the education, recreation, health and social service sectors. Many of these sectors are trying to do the same thing in isolation, and all feel challenged by limited resources.

What you can do:
Turn your school community into an active, healthy school community. Ask your local politician to call a meeting that brings together the various sectors to see how they can support one another by working together and sharing resources – money, facilities and people. Talk to your principal or school council and ask if they link regularly with community supports in public health, community health, recreation and social services to access programs and supports available in promoting physical activity. Champion a physical activity event or program that brings the school and community together.

Did you know?
Regular, enjoyable physical activity pursuits have been shown to positively support mental health through reduction of stress and depression among children and youth.

What you can do:
Find out what physical activities your child likes to do and who they like to do it with – support your child in accessing and organizing fun activities alone or with family and friends. Talk to your school guidance counsellor or family physician and ask if physical activity options are presented in support of youth who are looking to manage stress or deal with the blues.