Time to bring back play
As important as physical activity is for our young people, the reality is that one in three families in Canada can’t afford to enrol their kids in organized sports or physical activity programs.”
Spring is finally here, and with it, the sounds of laughter and kids playing are in the air once again. Bike rides, shooting hoops and playground fun are just some of the ways kids get active in the spring and summer months.
It’s a good thing too, because recent reports show that Canadian kids just aren’t getting enough exercise. According to the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology, kids should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every single day.
Unfortunately for many children, that simply isn’t the case.
According to the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, only 7 per cent of five to 11-year-olds and 3.5 per cent of 12- to 17-year-olds met the physical activity guideline of 60 daily minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity.
This spring and summer, consider enrolling your child in an organized sport or physical activity, such as soccer, baseball, swimming or cricket. Freida Rubletz, regional manager, Jumpstart Programs Greater Toronto Area, Canadian Tire Jumpstart, explains that in addition to the physical benefits, organized play also helps to: • Increase self-esteem and
self-confidence • Develop leadership skills • Improve academic performance • Teach healthy lifestyle habits
“As important as physical activity is for our young people, the reality is that one in three families in Canada can’t afford to enrol their kids in organized sports or physical activity programs,” Rubletz said. “Charities like Jumpstart remove some of those financial pressures so all kids can have the opportunity to get in the game.”
Canadian Tire Jumpstart is a national charity dedicated to removing financial barriers so kids across Canada have the opportunity to get off the sidelines and into the game. Whether it’s the chance to try a sport for the very first time or to continue with a favourite physical activity, Jumpstart makes it possible for all kids to participate.
Jumpstart has a unique charity model that involves working with an extensive network of 330 local Jumpstart chapters in communities across Canada. Chapter members are volunteers and community leaders who are committed to helping get kids active and healthy. These chapters work collectively with more than 3,100 Jumpstart community partners across the country, such as the local municipal parks and recreation department, the local Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA/YWCA, to help them submit applications for Jumpstart funding as well as identify kids from financially disadvantaged families who would benefit from participating in sports and physical activity programming. These chapters and community partners play a key role in making Jumpstart successful, and this model helps to ensure the funds are directed to those who need it most.
Participation in sports and physical activity will improve kids’ chances for success in life. Those who get the chance to participate develop life skills, such as confidence and teamwork, and they learn to live healthy, active lives.
This is the power of Canadian Tire Jumpstart.
Applications for assistance can typically be submitted from Jan. 15 to Nov. 1 (varies by chapter), with the goal to be equitably distributed over spring/summer and fall/winter activities. The funding is distributed with a focus on maximizing the cost and length of participation per activity per child. For more information on how to apply, please call 1-877-616-6600 and a call centre representative will help you to connect with a representative for your local Jumpstart chapter. All information received is kept confidential.