Pro women’s sports make business sense. But will we invest in them?
A new study by Canadian Women & Sport presents a business case for a thriving women’s professional sport market.
Canadian Paediatric Society recommends risky play for kids
Risky and unstructured play have a crucial role in the physical, mental, and social development of children, says the Canadian Paediatric Society.
Celebrate and learn more about Indigenous athletes this month
June is a time for celebrations—from graduations to Father’s Day to Pride and even the arrival of summer. And another very important celebration taking place this month is National Indigenous Peoples Day. Happening on June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day is an important opportunity for adults and children alike to learn more about the cultures, … Continued
8 reasons to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will offer teachable and inspiring moments for kids and parents alike. Here’s why you should tune in.
Skateboarding’s Olympic debut
Skateboarding has developed in a lot of different directions over the years. This summer, for the first time, it’s an official sport at the Olympics in Tokyo.
Study shows what motivates kids to be active
Preliminary findings reveal youth-perceived barriers to physical activity and sport—useful information for parents, coaches, and educators.
Why do more girls quit sports than boys?
New research by Canadian Women & Sport offers insights regarding the barriers faced by girls in sport.
How physical literacy in childcare benefits children, parents, and ECEs
According to a Canadian study in early child care centres, the benefits of adding more active play time into daily routines are more than just physical.
Coaches get creative to stay connected with young athletes at home
During COVID-19, coaches have had to evolve fast to keep athletes engaged and active while they’re apart from their teammates.
What “back to school” looks like during COVID-19
With some schools reopening, a Quebec teacher tells the CBC that while students and teachers are happy to be back, there’s a lot of uncertainty too.
Making Canada proud: Teen athletes excel at 2020 Youth Olympic Games
The multi-sport event, organized by the International Olympic Committee, brings together top teenage athletes from around the world.
Active for Life continues to study preschool physical literacy programming
Thanks to funding from the federal government, the Early Years Physical Literacy Research Team will move on to phase two.
Free multisport program helps more kids develop physical literacy
A new free multisport program in Nova Scotia is helping more Cape Breton Island children develop physical literacy while learning how to play various sports. Capers in the Community launched this summer and is being offered at no cost in towns throughout the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM). The four-day camp gives children ages five to … Continued
This ad campaign seeks to empower women in soccer
We don’t sell commercial ad space on Active for Life, but once in a while, we recognize advertising campaigns that promote important messages. This is the case with the Visa ad campaign developed for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which started earlier this month. The campaign video shows a series of female soccer players … Continued
Jr. NBA introduces kids to basketball
With the Toronto Raptors’ deep run in the NBA playoffs, and now a franchise-first NBA championship, everyone in Canada is talking basketball. And as often happens when the “home” team finds success, kids everywhere want to start playing and emulating their heroes. Jr. NBA Youth Basketball is now making it easier than ever to get … Continued
Nike’s FIFA Women’s World Cup ad encourages girls to dream big
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
How to get your daughter inspired by the FIFA Women’s World Cup
But role models are not enough to change the lives of Canadian girls
Studies show spending time in nature can improve children’s attention spans
If your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or struggles with focus, you’ll be happy to hear that a simple walk in your local park might be beneficial. CBC News recently reported that a review of hundreds of studies found time spent outdoors can result in improved attention span, self-discipline, and stress reduction. “Researchers also … Continued
How parents can support the responsible coaching movement
Parents can insist sports clubs train and screen all coaches
World Health Organization releases new guidelines on screen time and sedentary behaviour for children under five
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
New abuse-reporting hotline promotes safe sport
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
This Canada Games athlete gives back with Walk a Mile in Someone’s Shoes
Featuring 19 sports, over 150 events and a major arts and cultural festival, the 2019 Canada Winter Games will welcome up to 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches and more than 20,000 visitors. Meet Team BC cross-country skier Molly Miller. Molly has a busy schedule ahead. She will race five times over the course of six days and … Continued
Everything gets Better with ParticipACTION
It’s challenging for families to find time to be active together, so Active for Life and ParticipACTION are making it easier. Families will find Recipe for an Active Year an excellent source of ideas for family activities throughout the four seasons. Most people think physical activity is just about losing weight and looking good at the … Continued
Groundbreaking study shows the effects of screen time on kids’ brains
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