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Walk Safely to School Day a good time for family activity audit
AMA Victoria President Dr Mark Yates has urged families to use Walk Safely to School Day, this Friday (May 4), as the perfect time to do an audit of your family’s weekly physical activity.
“Walk Safely to School Day is the perfect way for parents to start getting active with their children and is a great way to help kids build a positive attitude towards physical activity.”
Dr Yates urged families on Walk Safely to School Day to audit their physical activity and look at how to make physical activity a fun part of their everyday life for all family members.
“Kids learn by example, so it is important that we as parents make physical activity fun and get out there and lead by example.”
Dr Yates said some simple things to consider in an audit, which parents should do with their children, included:
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How many minutes of moderate (such as a brisk walk or bicycle ride) to vigorous exercise (such as a game of football or netball) do your children do each day?
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□ Less than 60 minutes
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□ 60 minutes or more
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How many physical activities do you do as a family each week?
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□ 0 to 1 per week
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□ At least 2 or more per week
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How much inactive (watching TV or playing computer games) leisure time do your children have each day?
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□ Two hours or more
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□ Less than two hours
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Do your children participate in a range of structured (such as netball, football, basketball, Little Athletics, swimming or ballet) activities each week?
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□ No
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□ Yes
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Do you children participate in unstructured (such as, bicycle riding, walking the family dog, skateboarding or playing during school recesses/breaks) activities each week?
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□ No
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□ Yes
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“If all your answers are in the right hand column then you’re on the right track and you need to keep doing what you are doing.
“If you have ticks in the left hand column, then these are areas you need to look at and consider increasing the amount of activity or variety of activity the family has access to.
“The important thing is to make small steps towards your activity goals and ensure it is fun,” Dr Yates said.
“Obesity is a major problem in Australian children and will lead to chronic illness and disability in later life if not rectified.
“Parents need to demonstrate to their children how an active life can be fun and feels good, which will hopefully give them the best chance of remaining active and healthy through-out their lives.”
Dr Yates said the Commonwealth Government’s Active Kids Are Healthy Kids Guidelines gave parents a great framework for encouraging physical activity in children. The guidelines can be found at www.healthyactive.gov.au under recommendations and guidelines. For more information on Walk Safely to School Day please visit www.walk.com.au.
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