We all lead such busy live; yet many people are still considered to be quite inactive. Research shows us that physical activity benefits our health in many ways. Childhood inactivity is leading to poor health outcomes for our children. It is now possible that children may have shorter lives than their parents due to increased health risks due to inactivity and poor nutrition choices.
In British Columbia, the Provincial Government are addressing health, nutrition and physical activity issues through a broad based health promotion strategy called Act Now BC.
As part of Act Now, this September saw the launch of mandatory 30 minutes per day of physical activity for all students in K-Grade 12. This program is an excellent effort on the part of the Province to not only raise student and family awareness as to the importance of physical activity but it also ensures that students are receiving at least 30 minutes of activity daily when in school. From the program website:
Health Canada recommends that children and youth achieve 90 minutes of physical activity a day to ensure optimal growth. By offering K-9 students 30 minutes of activity daily and requiring grades 10 – 12 students to complete 150 minutes of physical activity a week, the Ministry of Education will help students fulfil that recommendation. Students are encouraged to be active for more than just the minimum daily activity time.
Here is the link to the Physical Activity Guide for Schools. This is a helpful resource for parents to better understand the learning outcomes associated with this program.
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