March break is the perfect opportunity to get your kids off their screens and moving! According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average child ages 8-18, spends 7.5 hours on a device or screen every single day. That’s 114 days glued to a screen each year! Sedentary behaviour has implications for both physical and mental health, including increased risk of obesity, developing a chronic disease (such as Type 2 diabetes), and mental health issues. Health Canada recommends children and youth get 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Getting our daily dose of exercise not only helps to prevent health risks, it builds strong muscles and bones, develops positive body image and supports mental health. Here are 5 activities to help keep kids active and having fun this March Break:
Enjoy the great outdoors
Breathe in some fresh winter air as you explore your local trails, parks, toboggan and ski hills. Or, check out the local maple syrup festivals happening in your area!
Visit a local museum
March Break is a great time to learn something new. Local museums are rich with history, fun facts and exciting ideas. And, the good news is, you’ll spend the day moving!
Make a splash
Local community pools offer day passes for families to take advantage of recreational swimming. And, for the older kids, March Break is the perfect time to enroll in aquatic leadership programs such as Bronze Medallion.
Lace up your skates
Many local ice rinks hold family skates during the March Break. It’s a great opportunity to get some exercise and burn off some energy!
Family playtime
Hoola hoops, hopscotch, jumping jacks, and jump ropes are a great way for the whole family to get active. Games like Hide and Seek, playing catch, and dancing can keep everyone moving and having fun.
Prevention is key – speak with a medical professional today
March Break is the perfect opportunity to create healthy habits for the entire family. For more tips on how to get kids moving, visit the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines: An Integration of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep.
If you would like to speak with a medical professional about your family’s physical or nutritional healthcare needs, head to https://tuliphealth.ca/talk-to-a-doc. Tulip Health is a virtual walk-in clinic that provides non-emergency related healthcare. It’s easy to use and it’s covered by OHIP. To book an appointment, visit www.tuliphealth.ca.
