Topics: Health

Physical activity as a powerful and positive social outlet Sheppard, a lacrosse player, decides to start up a team to provide his students with physical activity and a positive social outlet. It takes some convincing—“I don’t like to run,” one boy tells Sheppard—but the Kugluktuk Grizzlies are born. At practices, Sheppard shows them how to … 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

A mom shares her experience with postpartum depression and offers tips for other new parents experiencing what she did.

Hey, Project Active Family participants! It’s been a few weeks since we officially wrapped up Project Active Family, but I’m happy to report that our small-but-mighty community continues to live on in all kinds of unofficial ways. Each time I dive into my social media feed, I see a variety of wonderfully inspiring photos featuring … Continued

In 2015, the Unama’ki Sport Association held its first Unama’ki Riders snowboarding program. The goal was to provide youth ages 12 to 18 with the opportunity to learn how to snowboard. Since then, the program has continued to grow and provides an opportunity for Aboriginal youth to be active throughout the winter months. Winner of … Continued

In partnership with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) Recreation Department, the Shred Sirens is an all-female skateboarding group that runs out of Youth Centre in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. The group grew out of an existing beginner skateboard program run by the CBRM Recreation Department. It takes place year-round: in the summer month, at municipal skateboard parks across the community and in the … Continued

Of my three children, two of them love competition, working up a sweat, and getting out of breath. My daughter on the other hand? Not so much. And that’s probably one of the reasons she says that she “hates” her physical-education (PE) class. Hate is a big word. There are reasons why she’s not enjoying … Continued

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

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

“In Happy Parents Happy Kids, Ann Douglas has written the quintessential handbook for parenting in the digital age. She’s covered every conceivable angle and topic, and gives practical, compassionate, non-judgmental, and research-based advice. Buy a copy (or two) for every expecting, new, or veteran parent you know.” —Richard Monette and the Active for Life team … Continued

The problem is that making things too safe can starve children of the very experiences that best help them learn how to keep themselves safe and healthy. As rising numbers of children and teenagers struggle with emotional and social problems, it is all the more important to get this balance right. In the end, the … Continued

Meet Jenn Carson. She’s a mom, an active community member, an author, a yogi, and the Library Director of LP Fisher Public Library, in Woodstock, New Brunswick. And she’s turning libraries on their head. Or at least the people using her library. Jenn, also known as the “Yoga Librarian,” is on a mission to change … Continued

Following a pregnancy, taking time for your mental health and wellbeing is vital as it may be suffering due to lack of sleep. Gentle exercise helps you feel better, provides energy, and eases anxiety, and it is also an excellent way to connect with your baby. In a recent Toronto Star article entitled “Tips for … Continued

Beat those winter blues together as a family

Last year, Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) Recreation launched a year-long, 52 Hike Challenge. The challenge encouraged participants to do one hike, every week, for one whole year. Some who complete the challenge do so in a little as 52 days; that is the beauty of the self-guided challenge. Registered participants would receive a journal to … Continued

Learning how to ice skate is a common rite of passage for most Canadians. Do you remember how it felt when you were first able to skate on your own? The crisp air on your face as you glided along the ice, maybe dreaming of that first goal, first race, or first spin? Perhaps you … Continued

Picnic play ideas for the whole family

Guess what Lacombe and London have in common

Spend time outside to de-stress

Canadians “could do a better job” says John Cairney

Active for Life is pleased to offer the following ready-made lesson plans for educators, caregivers, camp leaders, and after-school program leaders who want to deliver physical literacy instruction to children. All lesson plans are in PDF format. To see how these fundamental movement skills look, check out these videos at KIDDO. Lesson Plans for 3 … Continued

Tasty ideas to keep your kids fueled-up

Balance of moving, sleeping, and sitting needed for healthy growth and development

All it takes is careful preparation and monitoring