Author: Jaime Neefs

For many children in early-years programs, learning happens at play centres, themed play areas with a specific focus.

The Active for Life fortune teller inspires movement, from balancing on one foot to catching a ball to crab-walking.

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

Through its commitment to ensuring an abuse-free workplace and sporting environment, the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) has launched an Investigation Unit to assist federally funded sport organizations in handling complaints and allegations. As part of the pilot project, independent and qualified professionals are available on a voluntary and fee-for-service basis to provide third-party … Continued

Don’t change your dream. Change the world. That’s the messaging behind Nike’s newest ad, highlighting girls and the game of soccer.  In the three-minute video, a young female player realizes her potential by running alongside the game’s biggest names. From shooting a video game cover with Brazil’s Andressa Alves to coaching alongside former English … Continued

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines on “physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under five years of age.” Specifically, it provides recommendations for sedentary screen time, suggesting no more than one hour per day for children ages two to four. The guidelines were developed by a WHO panel of experts … Continued

The Canadian Sport Helpline is a new initiative to ensure that all Canadians participating in sport can do so in a safe and welcoming environment, regardless of the role they play. Safe sport is everyone’s responsibility, and the national toll-free helpline offers assistance to victims and witnesses of harassment, abuse, discrimination, and bullying. In its … Continued

“Back when we were kids…” Do you ever catch yourself telling stories to children about how play used to be? The freedom and friendships of the outdoors, and playing all day until the lights came on, were staples of childhood. It seems like forever since that kind of free play lived in neighbourhoods, and according … Continued

About once a year a sharp pang of regret hits me. It’s most likely to strike on one of two occasions: in the winter after a big snowfall or out on the lake at a summer cottage. The two situations are vastly different, yet both stir up similar feelings of regret, embarrassment, and frustration. So, … Continued

Early results from groundbreaking research hoping to understand the effects of screen time on kids’ brains are now available. The verdict? Children’s brains are growing older, faster. Basically, MRI scans of kids “who use smartphones, tablets, and video games more than seven hours a day” (Cooper, 2018)  show premature thinning of the brain’s cortex, according … Continued