Physical activity is fun and healthy too! Keeping children and youth active has many benefits:
• Builds strong bones and strengthens muscles
• Maintains flexibility
• Maintains and achieves a healthy weight
• Promotes good posture and balance
• Improves fitness
• Strengthens the heart
• Improves self-esteem
• Increases relaxation
• Helps them meet new friends
Remember, the habits that children learn early in life follow them into adulthood. Encourage them to be physically active and be an active role model yourself.
Many children and youth are not physically active enough for healthy growth and development. They should aim for at least 90 minutes of physical activity every day and try to reduce their “non active” time spent watching TV, using the computer and playing video games.
As well children and youth should try to do all three types of physical activity:
1. Endurance – activities that make you breathe deeper, make your heart beat faster, and make you feel warm such as running, jumping and swimming.
2. Flexibility – bending, stretching and reaching activities that keep your joints moving such as gymnastics and dancing
3. Strength – activities that build your muscles and bones such as climbing and lifting
