Studies show that active kids are happier, healthier and smarter. So encourage your kids to get outside and get active – you’ll see the benefits at home, on the field and in the classroom.  

 

An active day starts with waking up 15 minutes early, so you’re not too rushed. You sit down with your kids and have a healthy breakfast – without the TV on – and talk about the day ahead.     

 

Get the jump on your activity by walking or cycling to school with your children, or taking turns to walk the neighbourhood kids as a group. Kids will love the time with you and the fresh air will do everyone good.  

 

Include a skipping rope, sidewalk chalk or a baseball glove in your child’s backpack for recess or lunchtime. Plus, your child should participate in phys-ed at school, ideally taught by a physical activity specialist.  

 

After school is the time for your child to participate in an intramural sport, play catch or other activity that is physical.  It’s easy to fall into sedentary activities like video games and television in this period, but research shows that kids should be watching no more than two hours of TV per day—one hour for preschoolers.  Click here to obtain tips on how to keep active after school.

 

At dinner, avoid the TV and video games again, eating as a family. Research shows that family rules about screen time decrease the amount of time kids spend in front of the tube. Afterwards, take a walk around the block together or go to the park.    

 

A busy, active day with healthy patterns will help your children grow into healthy, active adults. For more information and tips on fitting activity into your day - as a youth, an adult or an older adult - visit our Benefits of Physical Activity page.

 

 

 

For a downloadable version of the content above please visit our online Toolkit.