Daily Physical Activity for Children

Physical activity is good for your child’s health now and in the future. Benefits of physical activity include: strong bones and muscles healthy heart, lungs and arteries improved coordination, balance, posture and flexibility maintaining a healthy weight reduced risk of chronic disease such as; heart disease, cancer and type-2 diabetes later in life improved learning and attention.

Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines

Canadian guidelines recommend that children aged:

0-1 years should be active several times throughout the day, such as floor play

1-4 years should be physically active for at least 180 minutes each day, with activity spread across the day

5-17 years should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. Moderate-intensity physical activity – should be able to walk and talk, but not sing all that well; would be about a 5 or 6 on a scale of 10. Vigorous-intensity physical activity – should not be able to carry on a conversation, should be huffing and puffing and breaking a sweat; would be about a 7 or 8 on a scale of 10.

 Physical activity isn’t necessarily ‘exercise’. Your child doesn’t have to play an organised sport or do push-ups to benefit. Opportunities for free outdoor play are just as important and valuable. It does help, though, if you make daily plans for when and where your child can be active.

www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca