Gym Shorts: The joys of kidding around

I am writing about kids and health today because I recently took the Government of Canada’s on-line Physical Activity Quiz and failed one of the questions on youth and physical activity. There are 10 questions and I thought, “Oh, I will ace this,” given everything I have learned about health and fitness over the years. Moreover, I was surprised by the answer.

But first, some background. I am continuing on my journey to lap up information on fitness and health. I talk to fitness experts, pick the brains of health specialists whenever there’s an opportunity, poke around on the ‘Net and yes, read books from our great Bruce County Public Library.

When I am on the Internet, I try to stick to sources that I can trust. I have found that, among other sources, the Government of Canada posts a wealth of information on health and wellness. It has guidelines and recommendations on how to have a healthier lifestyle. That’s where I found the fun little quiz.

On the government site is a section on how to work on “Being Active” and within that, a section that focuses on children and the benefits of physical activity. We all know that kids and youth need to be active to be healthy. What I did not know was how much activity they need each day for optimal health.

Kids and youth (ages five to 17) need A LOT of exercise every day! That activity can be broken up, and a part of it needs to have a high level of intensity. This physical activity they need includes more than just organized sports. It can take the form of regular daily activities, such as walking a dog, playing in the snow, tobogganing, shovelling the driveway, and playing tag or bicycling.

Young people literally need to have the opportunity to just kid around.

All this activity leads to improved fitness to maintain good body weight, strong growth, a great night’s sleep, the ability to learn new skills, and just that wonderful feeling of happiness. It helps build their bones and strength during their formative growth years. Without it, children may get sick faster or be at a higher risk of developing chronic diseases.

Not only is the sound of kids and youth at play great to hear, it’s an important part of healthy living at their age. So, no matter what, encourage those young ones to be active.

I’m not giving any answers to the free on-line quiz which covers all ages. But if you’re curious, here it is and good luck. You learn as you go, right? Take the quiz

As a reminder, you should always consult first with a medical professional or coach before starting a fitness program.



The author’s daughter, Rebecca, playing hide-and-seek with her father, many years ago