|
Physical Education
|
C-
|
• Mandated physical education time is highly variable across Canada.
• Few data exist on how much physical education is actually delivered in each province and territory.
• As of September 2008, daily physical education was mandated in Manitoba.
• New Brunswick has committed to hiring more physical education specialists in their Anglophone school system.
|
• Specialist physical education teachers are recommended at the elementary school level.
• Daily physical activity that supplements physical education is recommended for all elementary schools.
• Increased evaluation and research on the developmental and health outcomes of physical education is needed.
|
|
Sport and Physical Activity Opportunities at School
|
C
|
• About half of Canadian children and youth report being involved in at least one school sport (TTFM 2008-2009).
• School sport participation decreases in high school (TTFM 2008-2009).
• More boys than girls participate in school sports, and this gap widens at the higher grades (TTFM 2008-2009).
• Physical activity is low and sedentary time is high in preschool-aged children attending child care facilities.25
|
• Provide ongoing support to The Joint Consortium for School Health as it continues to produce resources for teachers and school administrators to improve physical activity opportunities in a way that is individualized to each school’s needs. For more information and to access their tool kits, visit www.jcsh-cces.ca.
• Schools should provide a variety of physical activity and sporting opportunities that appeal to students with different interests and ability levels, as these have been shown to be successful in motivating student participation and fostering student leadership.
• Create opportunities for student-led physical activity opportunities, particularly at secondary school.
|
|
Infrastructure and Equipment
|
B
|
• Evidence is sparse but some regional surveys suggest that the majority of children and youth feel the physical activity facilities available at their schools are adequate (SHAPES PEI).
|
• Early childhood education centres and preschools should allocate financial resources for simple, age-appropriate toys and equipment to promote outdoor active play in preschool-age children.20,163
|
|
School Policy
|
C
|
• Many schools in Canada have school-based physical activity policies designed to improve levels of physical activity for the student population; however, the support for these policies and evidence of actual implementation is sparse.158,164,166
|
• School-based physical activity policies need to be thoroughly evaluated for effectiveness, uptake and outcomes in order to inform program changes and to justify sustained funding.
|