Helping Your Children
Become More Physically
Active During Summer Break
Tips for Parents and Caregivers
Kids love the summer break because of
all the fun things they can do while school
is out. Sadly, too many kids choose sedentary
activities and end up sleeping in, sitting around
the house watching TV or playing computer
games. This leaves them tired and bored.
This year, why not help your kids celebrate
their summer break freedom by capitalizing
on the many hot ways to enjoy physical
activity in Canada during the warmer
summer months?
Here are some tips to help you and your
kids get moving this summer break:
While you know that being physically active,
living smoke-free, eating healthy foods and
participating in sports stimulates growth and
leads to improved physical and emotional
health, you may find that it is more effective
to teach kids the many benefits of physical
activity in terms that are more meaningful
to them. For instance, remind them that
getting off the couch and away from the
TV and computer during the summer can
help them to meet new friends, try new things,
learn new skills, feel good about themselves
and have fun.
Encourage your children to be more active
when traveling to a friend’s house during
the summer or walk part way to special
events and recreational programs.
Offer a wide choice of summer activities
during the summer beyond organized sports,
for example, walking the dog, playing tag,
building a tree house, dancing with friends,
riding a bike, or sweeping the garage.
Be physically active with your children
during summer break. Plan family activities
like hiking, biking, playing tennis, swimming,
in-line skating, or gardening.
Limit the ‘non-active’ time your kids spend
sitting in front of the television, playing
video games, or surfing the Internet during
summer break.
Play sports with your children during summer
break: try a game of street hockey or play
soccer with them at the park. Focus your
children’s attention on fun and their skills
rather than the outcome. “That was a great
play you made in the first period!” or “You
sure look like you’re having fun out there!”
Discuss with your children’s caregivers
that you expect physical activity to be
an important part of their daily routine
especially during summer break when they
don’t have to go to school. Suggest some
fun indoor and outdoor activities that you
know your kids enjoy.
www.summeractive.ca
SummerActive is brought to you by the Government of Canada
in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments.
Here are some other tips to help you and
your kids get moving anytime during the
summer:
Visit www.paguide.com and click on
‘Children & Youth’ to discover Canada’s
Physical Activity Guides to Healthy Active
Living for Children and Youth as well as
tips, tools, games and other resources
to help teach your children more about
the importance of daily physical activity
in all seasons.
Provide your children with regular opportunities to learn life-long outdoor summer
skills such as soccer, baseball, tennis,
inline skating and cycling, as well as skills
that could be used indoors during inclement
winter weather like martial arts, swimming,
gymnastics, basketball and volleyball.
Balance your children’s day year-round
with physical activities that are informal
and unstructured. This is particularly
important for children who tend to shy away
from competition and would prefer activities
that don’t require ‘scoring’ like hiking.
Enroll your kids in unique community
recreational programs or physical activity
clinics during the summer months,
like trampoline camp, hip-hop dancing,
or bike safety.
Be a positive role model for your children:
Bike or walk to work during warm summer
weather. Go for a hike on the weekends.
Try a new activity. Get off the bus a stop
or two early and walk the rest of the way
or even leave the car at home for short trips.
Take a few minutes each day to be physically
active indoors or outdoors, even if it’s as
simple as taking the dog for a walk, dancing
to your favorite tunes, cleaning the pool or
sweeping off the deck or patio.
Try to minimize the pressure you might
be putting on your children’s performance.
Provide positive feedback to your children
about how well they are doing rather than
focusing on winning. Compliment them on
their efforts by promoting good self-esteem:
“You must feel proud of yourself!” or “I can
tell you’re really trying hard – good for you!”
The most recent General Social Survey
on Sport Participation in Canada found
that parental involvement was a crucial
factor determining the extent of children
participation in organized sports, regardless
of the season. One survey in the United
States also indicated that 55% of sport
activities for disabled children occurred
within their families.
The Coaching Association of Canada
(www.coach.ca) has great coaching tips
to teach your kids skills in sporting
activities for all seasons.
Be an ‘active living’ family, one that
subscribes to a way of life in which physical
activity is valued and integrated into daily
living during all four seasons.
To learn more about how to get
up, go out and be SummerActive,
visit www.summeractive.ca –
you could win great prizes!