OK, you're all organized for back to school.
Morning schedules are in place, homework plans settled and after-school care is working well. But, there is something else.
Besides school, the kids (and you!) need to get active. For some of our kids, the regular activities are simply boring. So what else is there?
ParticipACTION has come up with some fun ideas.
Bike polo, underwater rugby and axe throwing can be considered definitely different.
Unconventional or weird sports are picking up steam in Canada. By combining favourite elements of "traditional" sports to create new sports, Canadians are finding new and unique ways to get active. Whether weird or traditional, participating in sport of any kind is a great way to ensure that we meet our daily physical activity requirements and break up our bouts of sedentary behaviour.
According to research conducted by ParticipACTION, Canadian adults spend an average of 9.5 hours per day being sedentary, while Canadian children and youth (ages 5-17) spend an average of 8.5 hours per day.
A recent poll revealed that 51 per cent of British Columbians would try a weird sport, but only 19 per cent have tried one. In addition B.C. is the second most willing province when it comes to trying a weird sport. Sport is a powerful reflection of Canadian culture, and there are plenty of weird and wonderful new sports available to us, right in our own communities. So let's take a look at some suggestions.
For paddleboard yoga you simply need a board and the skill level varies from those who practise on the shore to those who practise on the ocean. If you like the water, try some skim boarding. You'll need the board, wetsuit and life jackets but they're all available for rent. Or you can take up windsurfing. For this it's suggested you take a lesson before giving it a shot.
Life jacket, wetsuit and kiteboard are needed.
On Grouse Mountain any skill level can participate in disc golf. Just rent the discs and give it a try. Experienced skiers and boarders can take their action to a higher level with heli-skiing where a helicopter flies you up to otherwise inaccessible peaks.
For a unique take on running, consider headlamp trail running on any of the many B.C. trails. The final suggestion is roller derby. For this you need protective gear including helmet and roller skates. Generally this involves tryouts to join the league.
These are just a few ideas. And certainly you don't want to ignore all the regular activities. But when I looked at this list I realized that the trick is to explore different options for you and your kids and you will be active and happy.
It's so easy to get stuck in an activity rut and simply go through the motions. Of course, if you have an activity you love, then continue. But let the kids scroll through different websites and see what grabs their attention.
When considering the extracurricular activities for our kids, it's also important to think about the difference between sports and activity or play.
When your child joins a sports team there are a lot of advantages. He will learn how to work in a team, how to follow instructions and he will develop sport specific skills. He will also learn how to be a gracious winner and loser.
With activity or play, he can set the pace himself. For example, if he's playing hockey he follows the rules, plays a particular position and plays when the coach sends him on the ice. That's a sport. If he is skating on a pond with some buddies he can decide when, how and where he will skate. He is in charge of the activity and sets the rules he wants to follow. That is play.
And both are important for kids. With play they learn to problem-solve, make decisions, and become creative.
Kids who have play they love and a sport they also enjoy are developing a wide range of skills. So whether you go traditional or try some of these weirder activities, get up and get moving.
Kathy Lynn is a professional speaker and author of Vive la Différence, Who's In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I'd Ever Have to Leave Home. To read more, sign up for her newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
