Television expanding more than the minds of your kids

A new study from the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development has discovered the longer your child sits in front of the television, the larger their waist grows.

For every additional hour of TV consumed, waist sizes grew by almost half a millimetre. Excess weight affected child health, as well as overall athletic ability.

Recommendations published last year by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology suggested that children and teens spend no more than two hours a day sitting, including while watching TV, outside of school hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children should not watch more than two hours of TV a day. Those under age 2 should not watch any TV, the organization says. Read more

The key is moderation. Watching TV isn’t the main culprit here, it’s duration. Managing your child’s time in front of the screen is essential, and it’s a good way for them to learn the limits for themselves.

Plan to get outside and get active. Better yet, enrol your children in quality multi-sport camps this summer. They’ll have fun, develop physical literacy and maybe even discover their favourite sport.

And when your child does watch TV, why not join them? The Olympics are almost here. Cheer on the athletes and your home country.

Have you registered your child for a multi-sport camp this summer?