Canadian kids and teens are not moving as much as they should while isolated at home and away from school routines.
In the ParticipACTION Report Card, they received a D.
Just 39 per cent of children and youth are getting one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.
“Each additional 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity by a parent is associated with another 5 minutes in their child’s daily physical activity,” says Dr. Mark Tremblay, Chief Scientific Officer, ParticipACTION Report Card, and Senior Scientist with the Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute. “Regardless of how the family dynamic looks, family members are important role models for how young Canadians develop. That is why this year’s Report Card contains a comprehensive Consensus Statement, developed from experts around Canada, to help inform and guide families in practicing healthy movement behaviours together.”
ParticipACTION’s newest Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, released today, assigns a grade of “D+” to kids for their Overall Physical Activity. Find out why: https://t.co/v2WWG60ywS #ChildrenYouthreportcard pic.twitter.com/mXsXRz0kdN
— participaction (@ParticipACTION) June 17, 2020
When it comes to organized sport, Canadians get a B.
Parents who were asked said 77 per cent of 5 to 19-year-olds are taking part in organized physical activities or sports.
We are failing where active play is concerned.
Only 21 per cent of children between the ages of 5 and 11 spend ninety minutes a day on unorganized physical activity.
Children and youth in grades 6 to 10 report playing outdoors for an average of 15 minutes a day.
While families are physically closer than they have been for generations because of COVID-19, restricted access to playgrounds, school buildings, babysitters and playdates means the family’s impact has never been greater, but it’s also harder to maintain healthy habits in the home.
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