Author: AFL Team

Here’s how you can get your child the right introduction to figure skating

Active, unstructured play is important for healthy development

Q: How does participating in a variety of activities help my 8-year-old become a better baseball player? By playing lacrosse they learn to run fast, as well as track an object in the air. That will help with hitting and base running! By climbing monkey bars at the playground they gain arm strength and upper body … Continued

Q. My 8-year-old son plays hockey and the coach says he has a special talent. He scores a lot of goals and he is one of the stronger players. Given how much he loves the game, should I register him for summer hockey? He liked playing baseball last summer. Your description of your son, and … Continued

There are new sports being played at the Adams’ house, thanks to the Olympics

Q: How do I help my child become an elite athlete? It starts with you deciding to insist on properly designed sport and activity programs for your child. When kids learn the right thing at the right time and in the right way, they improve their skills and they have fun. That leads to them staying … Continued

This list of sports movies for kids will have you and your family laughing, crying, and feeling inspired by the power of sport.

Soccer is an easy game to understand and it’s fun to play

Even a young Wayne Gretzky knew that he needed to take a break from hockey at the end of a season

Q: Why do children quit playing sports? The main reason children say they quit is because they don’t have the skills to play. They feel “useless” or “pathetic”. They get laughed at or harshly criticized. You can prevent that from happening by making sure that your child is learning the right skills at the right … Continued

Toddlers and preschoolers need to learn fundamental movements skills before they’re ready to learn the more complicated skills required in structure activities and sports. The best way to help your children learn fundamental movement skills such as running, jumping, throwing and catching is to give them lots of opportunity for unstructured play in environments that … Continued

“The best thing a parent can give a child is the chance at a broken arm.” I can’t remember where I heard that. Or who said it. Although I thought it was harsh at first, I got to love the quote because I imagine that most broken arms in children are a result of falling … Continued

Do you want your child to be physically literate? Dr. Vicki Harber urges us to hear the call of the wild. A professor of physical education and recreation at the University of Alberta, Dr. Harber is a leading Canadian researcher in the area of physical literacy. She says the outdoors plays a critical role in … Continued

This article is the second in a series of three published in the Globe and Mail looking at children’s fitness and education. It poses the question “Are physically active kids better learners?” and discusses the state of physical education within the school system. It also describes how Canadian schools are just beginning to track the … Continued

With the goal of creating active, outdoor-loving children who grow up to be active, outdoor-loving adults, we created this list of things to do before your little one turns 12.

It’s baseball season and there’s no better time to get outside with a bat and ball and your kids. You don’t need to be part of a league to play. Scrub baseball is fun with as few as six players. Just grab some friends, neighbours or cousins and get out to your local park. This … Continued

There is no great risk in introducing your daughter to a particular sport or activity, but you should keep a few things in mind.

Q: I see ads for exercise programs geared at kids. Some do things like sit-ups and push-ups. Is this really necessary for children? What kinds of activities and exercises should I be looking at? If you have children between the ages of 5 and 10, you should look for a kids’ multi-sport program that focuses on … Continued

Kids play sports for the fun of it

Meet Jennifer Hedger’s newest project – Jaeger; as she discusses how helping him develop fundamental movement skills and providing him with a positive sport environment are his right.

Here’s a great indoor or outdoor activity to get your preschool-age child developing important movement skills: walking a tightrope! How to teach your child to walk on a tightrope: Find a thin piece of rope or a long piece of ribbon. Stretch the rope or ribbon out on the floor of your living room. (If … Continued

We recently featured a study that identified the 5 top reasons kids play sport. As you might have guessed, “because it’s FUN” is at the top of the list while “doing something I am good at” is a close second. We’ve compiled a list of DO’S and DON’TS for parents who want to help their child … Continued

Generally, children are ready to learn how to catch a light ball when they are three to four years old. By age five, you should definitely be playing catch with them. This activity teaches basic underhand catching skills using a simple sock ball, and it can be done indoors or outdoors. Catching is a very … Continued

Q: Shouldn’t my 7-year-old focus only on playing squash if she expects to become a professional? Absolutely not. Research has shown that early specialization in one sport is not necessary to become a champion later. In fact, it might prevent your child from reaching the highest heights. Take Jonathan Power, for example. The Canadian squash player … Continued