Category: News

Research shows that kids have been feeling more anxious in recent years. Learn why and what we, as parents, can do to help.

According to a Canadian study in early child care centres, the benefits of adding more active play time into daily routines are more than just physical.

During COVID-19, coaches have had to evolve fast to keep athletes engaged and active while they’re apart from their teammates.

With some schools reopening, a Quebec teacher tells the CBC that while students and teachers are happy to be back, there’s a lot of uncertainty too.

The multi-sport event, organized by the International Olympic Committee, brings together top teenage athletes from around the world.

Thanks to funding from the federal government, the Early Years Physical Literacy Research Team will move on to phase two.

A new free multisport program in Nova Scotia is helping more Cape Breton Island children develop physical literacy while learning how to play various sports. Capers in the Community launched this summer and is being offered at no cost in towns throughout the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM). The four-day camp gives children ages five to … Continued

We don’t sell commercial ad space on Active for Life, but once in a while, we recognize advertising campaigns that promote important messages. This is the case with the Visa ad campaign developed for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which started earlier this month. The campaign video shows a series of female soccer players … Continued

With the Toronto Raptors’ deep run in the NBA playoffs, and now a franchise-first NBA championship, everyone in Canada is talking basketball. And as often happens when the “home” team finds success, kids everywhere want to start playing and emulating their heroes. Jr. NBA Youth Basketball is now making it easier than ever to get … Continued

Don’t change your dream. Change the world. That’s the messaging behind Nike’s newest ad, highlighting girls and the game of soccer.  In the three-minute video, a young female player realizes her potential by running alongside the game’s biggest names. From shooting a video game cover with Brazil’s Andressa Alves to coaching alongside former English … Continued

But role models are not enough to change the lives of Canadian girls

If your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or struggles with focus, you’ll be happy to hear that a simple walk in your local park might be beneficial. CBC News recently reported that a review of hundreds of studies found time spent outdoors can result in improved attention span, self-discipline, and stress reduction. “Researchers also … Continued

Parents can insist sports clubs train and screen all coaches

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines on “physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under five years of age.” Specifically, it provides recommendations for sedentary screen time, suggesting no more than one hour per day for children ages two to four. The guidelines were developed by a WHO panel of experts … Continued

The Canadian Sport Helpline is a new initiative to ensure that all Canadians participating in sport can do so in a safe and welcoming environment, regardless of the role they play. Safe sport is everyone’s responsibility, and the national toll-free helpline offers assistance to victims and witnesses of harassment, abuse, discrimination, and bullying. In its … Continued

Featuring 19 sports, over 150 events and a major arts and cultural festival, the 2019 Canada Winter Games will welcome up to 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches and more than 20,000 visitors. Meet Team BC cross-country skier Molly Miller. Molly has a busy schedule ahead. She will race five times over the course of six days and … Continued

It’s challenging for families to find time to be active together, so Active for Life and ParticipACTION are making it easier. Families will find Recipe for an Active Year an excellent source of ideas for family activities throughout the four seasons. Most people think physical activity is just about losing weight and looking good at the … Continued

Early results from groundbreaking research hoping to understand the effects of screen time on kids’ brains are now available. The verdict? Children’s brains are growing older, faster. Basically, MRI scans of kids “who use smartphones, tablets, and video games more than seven hours a day” (Cooper, 2018)  show premature thinning of the brain’s cortex, according … Continued

Learn to love your mind, body, and spirit

Welcome to Active for Life, Ann Douglas!

The expert on youth sport talks about the important role of parents

Risky and loose parts play has improved students overall achievement and development

Find out how you can help your child to “thrive by five”

AfL Pro gets sent out twice a year