Posted: 05 May 2004 at 2:02pm | IP Logged

New Family Guides to Physical Activity for Children and Youth

The Family Guides are part of a series of resources that support Health Canada's flagship publications, Canada's Physical Activity Guides for Children and Youth. Two versions of the Family Guide - one for children aged 6-9, and one for youth aged 10-14 - are available free of charge to anyone who has children in their lives, such as parents, caregivers, guardians, grandparents and foster parents.

Produced by Health Canada and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, the booklets feature information and tips to help families get started on the road to better health.

The key premise of the Family Guides is to provide parents and caregivers with the information they need to help children and youth learn about the importance of physical activity, how it affects their health, and how to get started in increasing the amount of activity they do.

While participation in sports is encouraged, children need to know that sports are not the only way to stay active. Not all children enjoy competition, so for those who don't the Family Guides recommend alternatives such as hiking, household chores, cycling, in-line skating or walking.

Family members can also work with children to encourage healthy behaviors by setting some physical activity ground rules. Encourage the children to play outside and try to be an active role model, as active parents tend to have active kids. When a child asks for a ride somewhere, suggest that they walk, run or bike instead. Praising a child's efforts to be physically active help builds their confidence and is critical to success.

The Family Guides also highlight the idea of being an "active living" family -- one that subscribes to a way of life in which physical activity is valued and integrated into daily living.

Fun physical activities that families can do together include:

• Going for a walk after dinner;
• Putting on music and dancing;
• Carrying and putting away groceries;
• Raking leaves and jumping into the leaf piles;
• Clearing snow and making a snowman or snow angels;
• Playing catch or Frisbee;
• Ice skating or tobogganing;
• Taking the dog for a walk; and
• Seeing who can climb the most stairs each week.

Currently, over half of Canada's children are not active enough for optimal growth and development. Evidence suggests that a lack of physical activity is dangerous for their health and can be a major contributor to weight gain and obesity.

Today, most children know about Canada's Food Guide to Health Eating, understand that smoking is bad for them, and take an interest in the environment. Parents and other caregivers can play a key role in helping children attach the same importance to physical activity.

Other Guide support resources to help families do this include the 'Gotta Move' magazine for children 6 to 9 that features tips and ideas for fun activities and how to start trying new things, as well as a Physical Activity Chart with stickers so children can track their progress. There is also an interactive magazine, 'Let's Get Active', for youth 10 to 14.

For more information or to obtain free copies of Canada's Physical Activity Guides for Children and Youth and the support resources - including the Family Guides and interactive magazines - call toll-free 1-888-334-9769 or visit  www.healthcanada.ca/paguide