Topics: Sports & Rec

Many parents have asked me if I think competition is healthy for kids. Is it healthy? Is it “toxic”? Does it diminish self-confidence?

The Vivo Play Project gives kids the opportunity to let loose, play freely, and get dirty.

As parents and coaches, we must make youth sports fun for kids. Tim Hortons’ latest advertisement highlights this.

November 20 marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Here’s how parents can know when to intervene in their children’s risky play, and how to help facilitate acceptable risk.

Caleigh MacPherson, a soccer player for the Cape Breton University (CBU) Capers, fell in love with the sport from a very young age. She was just four years old when she first started playing soccer, but she said the fact that she spent time spent playing other sports too is what helped her become the high-performing athlete … Continued

Have you heard of disc golf? If you’re looking for a fun way to stay active and get outdoors this fall, then why not give it a try? Disc golf is an intergenerational sport where participants try to throw special flying discs or Frisbees into an above-ground target. The sport is based on the rules of golf, but instead of … Continued

From early specialization to costly programs to hyper-competition, this documentary tells its story through the voices of people directly involved: parents, coaches, and teachers.

Once primarily the domain of teen boys, skateboarding’s diverse culture and physical benefits are now attracting people of all ages and genders.

Casual sport and neighbourhood play are important. But as our urban centres grow, competition for our public spaces increases as well.

In this episode, Active for Life editor-in-chief Richard Monette talks with John O’Sullivan, founder of Changing the Game Project.

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

Here are some things you can do to increase your child’s chances of finding success and fulfillment in their sport.

It’s important to understand how yelling in the stands might affect your child’s focus and his or her overall enjoyment of the game.

Editor’s note: This article was updated on Nov. 28, 2019. Do you live in a neighbourhood that has a roaming group of children that plays outside with little or no interference from adults? One where the local kids knock on your door to ask your child to come out to play? Kudos if you do. … Continued

“Any questions?” This well-meaning phrase, when posed to a group of young female athletes, often results in 10 or more hands shooting up, and you as a coach end up standing there fielding questions like you’ve just entered your own personal press conference. You may be thinking to yourself, “Well that’s just how kids are.” … Continued

My youngest son, Cam, has always been full of surprises. With a flair for the dramatic, Cam decided that he would make his grand entrance into the world more than 12 weeks early. With the ensuing medical issues, including collapsed lungs, chronic lung disease, infections, viruses, heart concerns, and prolonged gastrointestinal and feeding issues, his … Continued

Highlighting the scale of the decline in children’s mobility, researcher Negin Riazi points to a study conducted in England that showed a staggering drop in the number of children ages seven to eight who walked to school independently, from 80 percent in 1971 to just nine percent in 1990. According to Riazi, this scale of … Continued

When our son was five years old, he showed no interest in team sports. He would participate halfheartedly and then after the season we’d prompt him to sign up again. He’d politely say, “No, thank you.” After a frustrating T-ball season where we spent more time arguing with our son about going to T-ball than … Continued

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

This September, Cape Breton will play host to the first-ever Just Paddle It! Festival in Eskasoni. The event, hosted by Atlantic Division Canoe Kayak Canada (ADCKC), in partnership with CBRM Recreation, Eskasoni First Nation, and several other community stakeholders, will take place Sept. 20-22 in Crane Cove and will offer canoe, kayak, and stand-up paddle sessions. … Continued

Risky play is necessary for healthy child development. Here’s some advice for how how parents can assess risk in their children’s play.

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

Getting out on your bikes as a family is a great way to get active and enjoy the changing seasons. Try these tips for fun family bike rides this fall!