Study says Canadian kids need to be more active

A new study suggests Canadian kids are the least active worldwide.

In the 2014 study by ParticipACTION, Canada gets a D grade on its Physical Activity for Children and Youth Report Card.

It is recommended children and youth get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. At least three days each week, physical activity should include muscle and bone-strengthening activities.

ParticipACTION has found, since 2011, few children and youth in Canada meet this recommendation.

The physical activity of kids from 38 countries around the world was compared. In Zimbabwe, over 80 per cent of children use active transportation to get to and from school, compared to just 25 per cent of kids in Canada. Around 80 per cent of children world-wide aged five to 17 years old get the recommended 60 minutes of heart-pumping physical activity per day, compared to just nine per cent in Canada.

“Being active is not just a choice, but a way of life,” said Mark Tremblay, chief scientific officer of ParticipACTION.

Stella Ruan is a mother of three kids. She thinks her children meet the guidelines.

“We try to let them to do some exercise every day,” said Ruan, “For example, they may have a swimming class, even or they don’t have a class, we try to have them go around the house 13 times every day.”

ParticipACTION has some tips for Canadian parents.

These tips include getting active with your children at a young age, teaching children the importance of physical activity and healthy living, avoiding hyper-parenting, giving children the freedom to decide how to be active especially outdoors and encouraging more free play.

With these tips in mind, the hope is that more Canadians will be active Canada’s rating will improve in the future.