Active Play (Child Care Manual)
As children move their bodies throughout the day, they find it to be a source of joy, self-expression, creativity and learning. This makes the early years a key time to promote life-long active habits.
- 2020 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
- Physical activity guidelines for children
- Sedentary behaviour guidelines for children
- Sleep behaviour guidelines for children
- Resources
2022 ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
The report card is the most comprehensive assessment of child and youth physical activity in Canada. The assessment is divided into three categories:
- Strategies and investment (government)
- Settings and sources of influence (family and peer, school, community and environment)
- Individual characteristics (physical literacy, physical fitness) and daily behaviours (overall physical activity, active play and leisure activities, active transportation, organized sport participation, physical education, sedentary behaviours, sleep, 24-hour movement behaviours)
Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth
The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth are the first evidence-based guidelines that integrate all movement behaviour occurring over a whole day: physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep. These guidelines are considered as the gold standard for active living by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.
Physical activity guidelines for children
0 to 4 years
Infants (aged less than one year) should be physically active several times in a variety of ways, particularly through interactive floor-based play - more is better. For those not yet mobile, at least 30 minutes of tummy time throughout the day is recommended.
Toddlers (aged one to two years) and preschoolers (three to four years) should spend at least 180 minutes in a variety of physical activities throughout the day, including energetic plan - more is better. Progression towards at least 60 minutes of energetic play for preschoolers is recommended.
5 to 17 years
For optimal health benefits, an accumulation of at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity is needed. This should include the following activities:
- Vigorous-intensity activities, including a variety of aerobic activities, at least three days per week
- Activities that strengthen muscle and bone, at least three days per week
- Several hours of a variety of structured and unstructured light physical activities, for example, walking to school
Sedentary behaviour guidelines for children
0 to 4 years
For healthy growth and development, children of four years and younger should not be restrained for more than one hour at a time, for example in a stroller or high chair.
Sedentary screen time for children less than two is not recommended. Children two to four years old should be limited to no more than one hour of sedentary screen time - less is better.
5 to 17 years
No more than two hours per day of recreational screen time is recommended. Sitting for extended periods of time should be limited when possible. Consider replacing sedentary behaviour with outdoor time and light physical activity for greater health benefits.
Sleep behaviour guidelines for children
0 to 4 years
For infants of less than one year, 14 to 17 hours (for those aged 0 to 3 months), or 12 to 16 hours (for those aged four to 11 months) of good quality sleep is recommended, including naps.
For toddles (aged one to two years), 11 to 14 hours of good-quality sleep, including naps, with consistent bedtimes and wake-up times is recommended.
For preschoolers (aged three to four years), 10 to 13 hours of good-quality sleep with consistent bedtimes and wake-up times is recommended. This may include nap times.
5 to 17 years
For those aged five to 13 years, nine to 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night is recommended.
For those aged 14 to 17 years, eight to 10 hours of sleep per night is recommended. To preserve sufficient sleep, all children and youth will benefit from consistent bed and wake up times.
Resources
Canadian Child Care Federation
Moving and Growing
Moving and Growing is a series designed to help children and adults develop lifelong habits of physical activity. Each illustrated booklet outlines the benefits of physical activity, how to choose appropriate activities, how to encourage physical activity and what children's developmental skills are by age group.
- Physical Activities for the First Two Years
- Physical Activities for Twos, Threes and Fours
- Physical Activities for Fives and Sixes
- Physical Activities for Sevens and Eights
You can purchase a copy of Moving and Growing by filling out an order form from the Canadian Child Care Federation.
Resource Sheets
- Supporting your child’s physical activity
- Building a Lifelong Habit of Physical Activity
- Bringing Back Physical Activity Play in Childhood
Moving on the Spot
Get kids moving and have fun… any time and any place. Moving on the Spot is a poster of a collection of ready-made stretch and movement activities that need little space and no special equipment. These activities can be done "on the spot" in just five to 10 minutes. You can order the poster for free by calling Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600.
Rainbow Fun
A physical activity and healthy eating program for children 3 to 6 years. It includes information and interactive activities for child care providers, educators and parents. Use Rainbow Fun for approximately 20 minutes every day. It does not require special equipment and can be used indoors or outdoors.
Outdoors: The Ultimate Playground
A physical activity resource for child care providers, educators and parents of children 6 to 12 years of age. It provides games that encourages children to be physically active throughout the year.
Have a Ball Together!
This website encourages physical activity for young children 0 to 6 years of age. Physical activity is an important part of a child’s development and the early years are the best time for children to develop movement skills and physical literacy. This will help them grow, be healthy and enjoy physical activity throughout their life. Have a Ball Together! gives you tools and resources to get children active through games, activities, learning, and play.
Ontario Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA)
Aims to support healthy, active living in schools and communities through quality programs and services, partnerships and advocacy. They provide a diverse set of resources and education tools to help foster healthy, active living in all children and youth.
A Canadian not-for-profit created to help parents give their children the right start in life through the development of physical literacy. They feature tools, like the printable Recipe for an Active Year, to promote the different ways of staying active all year long.
Physical literacy is developing fundamental movement skills, leading to fundamental sport skills in various decision-making situations in a variety of environments. This resource is an introduction to physical literacy.
Ontario Society of Physical Activity Promoters in Public Health (OSPAPPH)
Represents public health practitioners who promote physical activity in their communities. The society has developed key messages for public health on physical literacy along with provincial policy recommendations.
Formerly Active and Safe Routes to School, Ontario Active School Travel is a program of Green Communities Canada that aims to promote daily active travel as the main mode of transportation for students to and from schools. Promoting active school travel is a strategy take up by many schools across Canada to combat the declining levels of physical activity among children and youth. Active school travel can account up to 30 per cent of the daily recommended physical activity.
Last updated: Oct. 5, 2022
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