By paNOW Staff

Physical activity guide launches to make kids more active

Oct 23, 2010 | 3:07 PM

Brendan Wagner

CKOM

Teachers across the province now have a new tool to get their young students more active with the launch of the Saskatchewan in motion Daily Physical Activity Manual.
“It has over 150 different activities that teachers from Kindergarten to Grade 8 can use throughout the day to insert little activity breaks, during class, in between class as they're moving from room to room, ideas for recess, lunch, after school,” said Graham Richardson with Saskatchewan in motion.
The manual is being mailed out to schools across the province. Richardson said it was created after teachers asked for ideas of how to integrate physical activity into the school day.
It's recommended that children get 60-90 minutes of exercise each day in order to achieve proper development.
Richardson points out that a report released in 2009 showed that just 15 per cent of Saskatchewan kids are active enough. That means in an average classroom of 25 elementary students, only four of those kids are getting enough exercise.
The manual is targetted at schools, but daycares, after-school clubs and other groups are free to use the ideas. The manual is available for download at the link to the right.