Are 'helicopter parents' to blame for Canada's sedentary kids?
ParticipAction report gives children and teens failing grade in physicial activity
A report card is giving a failing grade when it comes to the physical activity of Canadian children and teens.
ParticipAction said it arrived at the grade of D- after a national study it conducted found only nine per cent of children meet the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines of 60 minutes of activity per day.
The organization found that 70 per cent of children between the ages of three to four get the recommended 180 minutes of daily activity — at any intensity.
'Helicopter parenting' not helping
According to the ParticipAction report, excessive adult supervision is to blame; kids are getting stuck indoors as parents fear for their safety.
"Kids want to learn how to play, they want to play, want to be active," said Mike McDonald, an expert when it comes to teaching kids how to play outdoors and on their own.
"But right now they are so used to having an adult around that when they're out there, by themselves, they're kind of like a deer in the headlights," he added.
Trust your kids. Trust that what you have taught them is going to work.- Mike McDonald, Blue Cross Recess Guardians
McDonald runs Blue Cross Recess Guardians, and explained that technology has changed the way kids play. Instead of going outside to play and come back home for supper, parents will sit their children in front of a screen until it is time to eat.
"Trust your kids. Trust that what you have taught them is going to work," he said. "Trust that they are going to make the right decisions.
"I think that is a big thing — do we trust our kids? We should trust them a lot more."
McDonald said children learn responsibility, how to be social and how to deal with conflict from playing with their peers.