Kids, Teens Get 'D' in Exercise

Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical exercise save it and preserve it. ~ Plato

Getting our children active needs to be a collaborative effort. Governments, industry, communities, schools and parents all need to share the responsibility of replacing sedentary time with active play. ~ Michelle Brownrigg, CEO, Active Healthy Kids Canada

Active Healthy Kids Canada, with a consulting team of medical doctors across the country, says that children and teens are not getting enough exercise. For kids aged 10 - 16 screen time is replacing active play. In its annual report card on physical activity levels of Canadian children, there has been no improvement in physical involvement over the last three years. The average child typically spends 42 hours a week (6 hours a day), more than a parent's full work week, in front of the TV, computer, or video game.

The report suggests a lack of parental control over the amount of time kids are either online or playing video games. It seems that when it comes to kids and families, the idea of healthy lifestyles has taken a back seat.

Are we surprised by the report? It seems that our lifestyles are getting more sedentary all the time. We depend on transportation to get us to the door step of our destination (the parking lot better be convenient), rely on technology to wash our car, hire a lawn and gardening guy to do the outdoors, enjoy rich food while we lounge at the back yard patio, sit in our easy chairs to enjoy the professional play offs... How many got their blood pumping and received an aerobically good work out in the last week?

As for the kids and teenagers what happened to child play, to frequent opportunities for community sport? Fortunately many parents help to organize events for their kids; there is nothing like spring soccer or baseball, but increasingly as kids get older into their teen years many activities evaporate. Are we raising a generation of techno kids whose eyes get the workout on the video screen, but whose bodies gain pounds due to inactivity making them more susceptible to earlier heart and vascular health problems?

Kudos to any community organization which promotes fitness activities and to the parents who encourage their children and teens to get involved. Perhaps the best education for children is to model the activities of their parents. Now what is your exercise regimen?

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