This just confirms -that it’s fine to have my daughter at the park for 2 hours every day. Even though mommy gets a little tired…..
Here’s the story.
Gail Macdonnell is at the park with her two nieces, her nephew and her son. She knows it’s good for them to run around and play.
“We try to get out everyday to the park, like the fresh air and exercise and burn off some energy.”
But a new report from “Active Healthy Kids Canada” says most Canadian children aren’t doing enough of that.
It has given canadian children an “F” for their physical activity levels – even though they’re getting out more than they have in the past.
Doctor Art Quinney of Active Healthy Kids Canada says, “children meeting the physical activity guidelines from 2005-06, 2007-08 increased by 4 percent - which is as I said – going in the right direction – so we’re making progress – but still 87 percent of children aren’t meeting the guidelines so that’s the problem.”
So what does Dr. Quinney recommend?
“At least 90 minutes a day – that can be informal play, organized sport, physical activity at school – it can be a range of things.”
Not only are children not getting enough time here in the park, the report also gave canadian children an “F” for screen time. That means 90 percent of canadian kids are spending way too much time in front of the television, computer or video screen. Active Healthy Kids Canada recommends no more than 2 hours a day of screen time. Children who aren’t meeting these recommendations are more at risk of chronic diseases and obesity.
“These are real issues and our children are going to face them earlier than people in our generation,” says Dr. Quinney. He also says inactivity means children don’t perform as well in school.
“We know that children who are active perform better at school , that’s a given.”
Macdonnell also knows this, which is why she walks her son to school everyday.
“It’s a 10 minute walk and his teacher said the children that walk to school they burn off a lot of energy before they get into the classroom and she highly recommends it.”
For more information on the report:
For more info on how to get your kids more active: