I wanted to share an article I found recently. What I like about this article is the double message. Children do need to be more physically active (we all do), but the emphasis is that all the responsibility does not lie on parents or the individual.
The community and community infrastructure need to facilitate physical activity. Many studies show that access to adequate greenspace for healthy movement is strongly correlated to increased physical activity and health, in all age groups and socio-economic brackets.
These days, there are many structural barriers to physical activity for all, such as the allowance of housing developments without parks in walking distance or active transport routes, or the elimination of features in parks that encourage children to climb, clamber, balance and run outside of organized sport.
There is a tiny excuse for a park on my street which is not big enough for anyone to throw a ball or run more than 3-5 steps, and which also has the added insult of a sign indicating that children are not to play unattended.
In today’s age with double working parents, or single parents who have to work extra long hours to compensate for low hourly rate, we have created structures that lead inherently to sedentariness, obesity and shorter lifespans. Fortunately the parents in my neighbourhood are resilient: an informal agreement seems to be in place allowing the children to play in the street instead. Parents place basket ball hoops and hockey nets at the end of the street, and neighbourhood watch in effect for all the children who roam freely up and down on bikes and scooters.
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In some communities, misinformed but well-meaning souls over-anxious because of media emphasis on nefarious actions, ruin active transport and active play by calling children’s services when they see children doing what we all grew up with: outdoor exercise.
In one study on 18,000 people active in parks, the researcher found that organized sport accounts for only 14% of park activity. Free activity accounted for 41%. This finding corresponds well with the fact that over 74% of children and youth in Canada do not participate in organized sport, and roughly 20% of Canadians overall meet physical activity guidelines.
Healthy body weight and active lifestyle are associated more with free movement (active transport, free play) than they are with participation in organized sport. We have the power and responsibility to make planning and policy decisions, as well as personal decisions, to facilitate movement not just for ourselves and our families, but for our community and country. When we promote physical literacy in children, we are creating health for the next generation.
Link to Article “ABC’s of Physical Literacy”
Heather Sansom is a management professional and sport and wellbeing coach, currently researching positive development and resilience through nature-based physical activity through her PhD with the University of Guelph. www.heathersansom.ca