Articles

At first glance, you might think that the Bromont National Cycling Centre (BNCC) is only for elite athletes, but think again. The centre also makes basic cycling skills a priority. The BNCC, located in Bromont, Que., gives adults and children the chance to discover all cycling sports—BMX, mountain biking, cyclocross, road cycling, track cycling, as … Continued

Risky play is a hot topic in parenting these days. Are you “overprotecting” your children? Or are you “putting them at risk” by allowing them to climb the monkey bars at the park? Researchers are telling us that risky play is necessary for healthy child development. It’s essential for developing confidence and the ability to … Continued

Playgrounds and unstructured free play have always been my go-to options for my two boys’ exercise and entertainment. But as they’ve grown in height, they’ve also been growing apart in terms of their interests, as well as their physical and social skills. Despite their five-year age difference, when they were younger both would happily play … Continued

The kids are back to school and it’s just as important as ever to keep up activity levels each day before and after classes, and to plan active outdoor time on weekends. Check out these suggestions for some fun family bike rides this fall before you bring the skis and sleds out. 1. Invite the … Continued

There is a lot of money in kids’ sports. In Canada alone, recent research suggests that youth sport has become an industry worth $8.7 billion per year. Unfortunately, amid this flow of dollars, and the sometimes astronomical cost for parents, many kids from lower-income homes are getting left on the sidelines. Enter Tim Adams with … Continued

From parking lots to playgrounds, children will play anywhere they get the chance. They can’t help it—play is part of kids’ DNA. It’s important for parents to keep kids safe and coach them on how to assess the risks around them. This challenge is made easier by sharing little “hacks” that set age-appropriate limits for children … Continued

She really liked that Jermaine took time to coach the kids about how to play and taught them some basics like dribbling, moving their feet, and shooting. She thought it would be great if it was actually a Raptors player teaching the kids to play, and is hoping that she might get coached by a … Continued

Most people think of libraries as places for quiet contemplation. But it turns out libraries today are not just places where people can go to read and check out books—they’re increasingly becoming community hubs where families can access a wide variety of activities and resources to be physically and mentally active. In this month’s podcast, Active … Continued

With the start of the school year fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about how to get our kids to school. Recently, there’s been a significant push for active school travel (AST). Programs are popping up across Canada to identify routes and educate students and their parents on safe active transportation. In Alberta, Ever … Continued

There’s an excitement in the air every time we tell students there’s an upcoming sports tournament. The schoolyard is filled with students in grades four to six practicing during recess to get ready for the tryouts. Typically, there are over 60 students trying out for one team. Most elementary school teams have 15 players on … Continued