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Schools In motion Newsletter Pieces
At home:
 Be an active role model- use active forms of
transportation and encourage your children to do the
same. Walk run, bike, skate or roll!
 Replace 30 minutes of time spent in front of the T.V or
computer with 30 minutes of activity time.
 Get outside and play with your kids!
At school:
 Our school has implemented a policy for Daily Physical
Activity to ensure that all kids move every day.
Physical Activity Tip
for Parents
Have Fun
Find out what activities your child enjoys. Try
a variety of activities to discover which ones
they like and which they don’t. Support your
child in accessing and organizing fun
activities alone or with family or friends.
For activity ideas go to www.saskatchewaninmotion.ca
In the community:



Request well-connected streets and sidewalk networks that
promote a supportive active transportation environment.
Ask for and help to create more opportunities in your
neighborhood for safe walking and cycling.
Talk with municipal decision makers and take the first
step in knowing what needs to change.
Want more information? Go to www.saskatchewaninmotion.ca
Fit Facts
Fit Facts
You have 650 muscles
in your body.
Endurance, flexibility
and strength activities all
help to make a healthy
body.
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How Physical Activity Affects the
Brain
Cognitive skills and motor skills appear to
develop through a dynamic interaction.
Research has shown that physical
movement can affect the brain’s
physiology by increasing:
• Cerebral capillary growth
• Blood flow
• Oxygenation
• Production of neurotrophins
• Growth of nerve cells in the
hippocampus (center of learning and
memory)
• Neurotransmitter levels
• Development of nerve connections
• Density of neural network
• Brain tissue volume
These physiological changes may be
associated with
• Improved attention
• Improved information processing,
storage, and retrieval
• Enhanced coping
• Enhanced positive affect
• Reduced sensations of cravings and
pain
Can I play?
The way Jumpstart sees it the answer
should always be YES!
1 in 3 Canadian families cannot afford to
enroll their children in sport and
recreation activities because of financial
barriers.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart gets kids in the
game by covering the costs of
equipment, registration and/or
transportation to kids ranging in age from
4-18.
For more information and to find out
how to apply:
Go to:
http://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca/en/
Or Call: 1-877-616-6600
Source: CDC April 2010
Physical Activity Tip
for Parents
Reduce the amount of screen time your child gets
throughout the day. Start by replacing 30 minutes
of screen time with 30 minutes of physical activity.
Be an action hero for kids you care about. Do just
one thing each day to inspire youth to be active
themselves!
For more information: www.saskatchewaninmotion.ca
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Tips for addressing common concerns around walking to
school:
Bring Back Play!
You live too far away from the school
- consider dropping your children off part way and letting them walk
- if the children are bussed, ask for an alternate route that gives the
opportunity for them to walk a few blocks
46% of Canadian kids get 3 hours or less of active
play per week
Play has been shown to foster & improve:
 Motor function
 Creativity
 Decision-making
 Problem-solving
 Executive functions – the ability to control
and direct one’s emotions and behaviours
 Social skills – sharing, taking turns, helping
others, resolving conflict
 Speech (in preschoolers)
Lack of motivation
- set up a reward chart
- play walking bingo
- pedometer challenge
- have younger children draw pictures of their route
Play should be freely chosen, spontaneous, selfdirected and fun. It allows children/youth to try
new things, test boundaries, learn from their
mistakes and, & enjoy being active.
Safety
- take turns with a neighbor walking your kids to school
- walk your kids part way (or all the way) if your schedule is flexible
- arrange for your kids to walk with a family friend
Traffic
- make sure your children understand the rules of the road
- talk to local officials if your school route lacks cross walks or side walks
- talk to your principal, school community council or community association
about addressing traffic issues
For more information visit: www.saskatchewaninmotion.ca
Source: Active Healthy Kids Canada:
http://www.activehealthykids.ca/ReportCard/Is%20Active%20
Play%20Extinct.aspx
June is Recreation & Parks Month
Feel the warmth of the sunlight, smell the
flowers, visit the beautiful parks, and play every
day!
Recreation builds family unity; enhances quality
of life, balanced living and lifelong learning;
helps people live happier and longer; develops
skills and positive self image in children and
youth; develops creativity; and builds healthy
bodies and positive lifestyles!
For more information: www.spra.sk.ca
Less than 15% of Saskatchewan Children & Youth
are active enough! We’re not okay with that…Are
you?
Pledge to take action! Do just one thing to increase
the physical activity of the kids you care about.
Go to: www.saskatchewaninmotion.ca
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Family Challenge Tips for
Reducing Screen Time @ Home

Join in motion’s Turn it Off & Take
it Outside! Challenge
 Institute Tubeless Tuesday
 Set specific limits on screen time:
aim for no more than 2 hours/day
 Develop a plan for after school
when screen-based activities are
often at their highest
 Remove TVs & computers from
bedrooms
 Model physical activity and
moderation in screen time use
 Create many opportunities for
free play & outdoor play
 Don’t rely on “active” video
games, use them as a
supplement only
For more information/resources go
to: www.saskatchewaninmotion.ca
Physical Activity Tip for Parents
Healthy Eating
Eating a healthy balanced diet maximizes
the benefits of physical activity. Check out
this link for further information on healthy
eating
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guidealiment/index-eng.php