Thrive! Partners Encourage Outdoor Play
Researchers and health promotion experts are looking at ways to inspire children and families to get outside and play at a symposium at Mount Saint Vincent University, today, Nov. 29.
"Whether it is skating, biking, or playing tag, we need to do more to get our children and youth outside playing, to encourage them to have a healthy lifestyle through physical activity," said David Wilson, Minister of Health and Wellness. "I am pleased that the Mount is gathering stakeholders at this symposium to advance outdoor play.
"The province is doing its part through a partnership between Thrive! and the ParticipACTION Bring Back Play campaign."
The Shifting the Tides on Outdoor Play Symposium featured speakers Kelly Murumets, president and CEO of ParticipACTION, Dr. Beverlie Dietze of Mount Saint Vincent University, Dr. Audrey Penner from Holland College and Dr. Rob Strang, the province's chief public health officer, who spoke about Thrive! A plan for a Healthier Nova Scotia.
During the symposium, Kevin McNamara, deputy minister of Health and Wellness, and Ms. Murumets signed a memorandum of understanding between the province and ParticipACTION, to inspire the public and provide tools for parents and leaders in communities to encourage more active play.
"Play is an easy, accessible and affordable way to get children to meet the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines," said Ms. Murumets. "With our partners, we want to bring back play and encourage Nova Scotia families to have unstructured active time, once part of every childhood."
The agreement supports the province's plans to improve the health and wellness of children and their families through Thrive!, the Early Years and Better Care Sooner.
Dr. Dietze teaches at the university's Child and Youth Study program and organized the symposium. She said outdoor play affects children's learning and development in many ways.
"Through active outdoor play, children challenge their physical abilities," said Dr. Dietze. "They also explore and express new ideas, experiment and discover, make mistakes and take safe risks, get creative and move their bodies in ways that they may not inside."
A child who spends more time outside is more likely to be physically active.
Physical inactivity is a serious issue in Nova Scotia. By Grade 7, less than a third of boys and less than a fifth of girls are physically active enough for development and health benefits. By Grade 11, only three per cent of youth are physically active enough.
The province is addressing childhood obesity and preventable chronic disease with a plan that focuses on physical activity and healthy eating. Thrive! builds on the work already underway across the province and supports, shares and celebrates the successes to inspire change. It also calls on government and partners to show leadership.
Learn more at https://thrive.novascotia.ca and www.participaction.com/get-moving/bring-back-play/.