5 ways to keep kids busy after school

Canadian kids are getting a failing grade – not in schoolwork but at play. According to the 2011 Physical Activity Report Card issued by Active Healthy Kids Canada, a nonprofit organization that advocates for children's health, Canadian kids score an F when it comes to activity, with 93 per cent failing to get the recommended hour of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day. The worst time is the critical after-school period from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., during which the average child spends just 14 minutes of a possible 180 being active.

So what can parents do to encourage their kids to move more during these sedentary hours between school and supper? Plenty, says Kelly Murumets, president and CEO of ParticipACTION.

1. Bundle them up for the backyard.
"Kids can't be couch potatoes without the couch," Murumets says. "There's a much greater likelihood they'll be physically active if they're outside."

2. Limit after-school screen time.
Kids spend an average of 42 hours a week in front of computers and TVs. "That's longer than most of us spend at our jobs," Murumets says.

3. Prepare nutritious after-school snacks ahead of time.
The unsupervised hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are also when kids tend to eat the worst food.

4. Schedule supervised activities.
Opt for an after-school day-care provider that makes time for physical activity, or check out the programs and team sports offered at your local YMCA/YWCA, Boys and Girls Club or parks and recreation department.

5. Rediscover play.
Physical activity doesn't necessarily mean organized sports. "Unstructured play is a great thing for kids' minds and bodies," says Murumets.

For more tips, check out ParticipACTION's Parent's Guide to Activity at participaction.com.

This story was originally titled "Solutions for the After-School Slump" in the November 2011 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!

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