REGINA – A new study asking kids to wear a device to measure their physical activity found disappointing, but perhaps not surprising results.
Only 9 percent of five to 17 year-olds are getting the recommended one hour of exercise a day. The study gives Canadian children a D- overall; Saskatchewan kids are slightly more active with 15 percent of getting the recommended amount of exercise.
The 11th annual ParticipACTION report card found kids are spending between 6 and 7 hours a day in front of a screen.
“Where we’re all lagging behind is this notion of spontaneous, outdoor, get outside and play, the kind of stuff we all did when we were growing up,” said Cathie Kryzanowski, Saskatchewan In Motion general manager.
Besides the obvious health risks associated with a lack of physical activity, there’s another potentially unintended consequence – a lack of adventure.
“Children aren’t learning how to problem solve, how to take risks,” said Kryzanowski.
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