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The EmHie Banner April Bi ActiveLife How you can get kids off couch Report card gives parents children another failing grade BY AMANDA Tag hopscotch hide and seek Jump rope and Red Rover are all fun games children play They also help keep your child healthy but our kids arent playing enough The annual Active Healthy report card released Tuesday gives Canadian children and their parents a falling grade More than per cent of children between the ages of two and five are overweight and just per centof children get the recommended two- hour minimum of physical activity a day they require the organization says There are no formal physical activity guidelines for children younger than five Its critically Important for young kids to be active York University and Active Healthy Kids vicechairperson Munro said adding Healthy living and healthy habits start with theyoung the report card outlines the Importance of physical activity for young children in the form of active play games sports transportation and recreation Its not about getting your chid a gym membership or ordering a kid sized treadmill which they dont make Ms Munro said Its about being active for at least two hours a day Thatdoesntmeariatwohour block It means playing in the back yard playing a game of tag or road hockey For many day care and preschool centres physical activity is porated Into daily programming where active fun is encouraged Reading is important hut riding a bike and playing Is equally tant Auroras Newpart Centre assistant director Nancy Taylorsaid Children need activity They look The annual Active Healthy Kids report card released Tuesday outlines the young children Activity of any kind is vital the group says for it They enjoy burning off the energy they naturally have Physical activity for preschool era is more about movement and stretching than exercise and burning calories Its the smallest thing like play- tag tag and having space to run around Newmarkets Leslie Street Day Care Centre supervisor Its important for these children to get outside and do something learn for themselves instead of watching someone else do it The report card focuses on early preschool children but also touches on physical activity for children especially in young girls Only about 5 per cent of cent girls are getting the required two hours a day of physical activity while to 20 per cent of boys are BY THE NUMBERS TVatanearUeragewithabout90 HOURS minimum time needed for exercise each day for children up to five the average age children started watching TV in Today five months old 1 JH of two to fiveyearolds in Canada who are overweight white 63 per meeting the requirement For the fourth year in a row Canadian are getting an in general fitness Ms Munro said adding there have been no significant strides made as a community The report card also found chil dren are being plunked in front of a STAVING ACTIVE llerearesometpfwpamutakingto orate more active Make physical activity a fun regular local playground and encourage him and play Arrange to meet up friends so rft soda fa every mcmberofthefamlly When the weather isnt Weal door up the musk and dance Dandng is a great vay to get your body moving and heart pumping Make an afterdinner a regular activity Participate as a family team in a chantymnwalkorcarvrash- r letvburchlldrrydifrerentsportsand activities In ageappropriate Encourage your chid to help out around the house with chores as raking digging and pick ing up sticks Make physical activity one of the selection criteria for your ch Ids preschool Select a preschool day care or school within walking distance of your home importance of physical activity fet and your child vflll both benefit from the walk Be a good role model Bu Id a family physical activity Into every weekend such as going for a hike or playing a family game of soccer or football Set limits on screen time and remove computers from your Explain to your children the tance of outdoor play and that decreased screen time is not a punishment groups and teams Make sure to keep it fun the physical activity that counts arid tryto attend as as pos sible Invite your children to come watch arid cheer you on at sports games FILE PHOTO the tube before their birthday In fact children are logging more screen time in front of aTV com puter or video games than active play time Ms said noting screen lime starts as early as Ave months old When children spend so much time doing so about six hours a weekday and seven hours on week ends on average something else is suffering Ms Munro said Playing and making up their own games is missing she said Waddling around on the bumpy grass surface is a form of learning Things You can do This Weekend ART SEASON take In the ASK studio Tour in King this weekend featuring 17 stops and more than artists visit for details TUNES Newmarket folk Soci ety presents Anne and Jason fowler Saturday at p m in the Trinity United Church hall Park Ave Tick Visit PITCH IN Community cleanup Saturday 9to at Watson Park Visit for details GIVE LIFE Blood donor Saturday pit Newmarket Call 18002366283 or visit blood ca for details Lenda hand with the community tree planting festival environmental park on Woodspring Avenue Visit for schedule SOUNDS Keynotes Seniors Choir performs Saturday 730pm at St Andrews Church Newmarket Aurora- Community Centre is open for season weather permitting Helmets manda tory Call for details PUN AHEAD Find out more about the latest hot spots indudlng the Gala pagos Islands during a spring travel seminar Saturday at Aurora Library RSVfat90MOM106 DINE OUT learn more about the Sharon Temple during the historic sites annual brunch Sunday 1 a to pm Reg of York hosts back yard compos ing seminar Saturday 10amto2pjn7m East avail- able for 10 Visit details York Region Media Group Celebration