Active Living

According to the most recent edition of the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute’s Physical Activity Monitor, 56% of Canadians are physically inactive.  

  • Endurance activities help your heart, lungs and circulatory system stay healthy and give you more energy. These include walking, gardening, golfing, dancing and in-line skating.
  • Flexibility activities help you to move easily by keeping your muscles relaxed and your joints mobile. Flexibility activities include gentle reaching, bending, and stretching of all your muscle groups. This is found in yard work or house work, curling and Tai Chi.
  • Strength activities help your muscles and bones stay strong. They also improve your posture and help to prevent injuries or osteoporosis. Carrying groceries or children, lifting weights, hiking with a backpack or climbing stairs are effective ways of building your strength.
Health and Your Family
  • The issue of physical inactivity of children is a national issue that has become a growing concern for parents, medical professionals and government officials.
  • Canadian children and youth spend over 13 hours per week watching TV.
  • Less than half of kids between 5 and 17 use active forms of transportation (e.g., walking or cycling) to get to and from school. Added to this total are the hours they spend sitting in school or in front of a computer doing homework or playing video games.
  • Children need to be physically active for their overall health and achievement. Regular physical activity is important for children's healthy growth. Regular physical activity contributes toward healthy bones, and proper development of muscles and the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels).
  • Parents, teachers and schools each play an important role in helping children become active from a young age. This early activity starts a pattern that will continue into adulthood and throughout their lives.
  • Physical activity plays an important role in preventing problem behaviours, and helps young people to:
    • Achieve greater self-esteem
    • Experience better mental well-being
    • Become more physically skilled
    • Overcome boredom
    • Find positive ways to spend their free time
    • Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
Ideas

Make physical activity a family affair by working in exercise as part of your family's daily routine.

  • Instead of driving kids to school, map out a route so you and your child can ride your bikes or walk to school.
  • Instead of watching television after dinner, take your kids to the park and throw a ball around or kick a soccer ball. Invite your children's friends to come along and make a game of it!
  • Choose activities that are fun for the whole family like an outdoor hike, nature walk, bike ride or leisurely skate.
  • These activities will not only help kids get active, but are a great way for families to spend time together.
  • Encourage kids to enroll in their favourite sport or recreational activity like swimming, dancing or hockey.

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