Health Canada recommends that children and youth should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day.

Recreational activities and sports are great ways to:

  • Exercise
  • Spend time with friends
  • Manage stress
  • Stay fit and healthy
Sport and recreation, however, are leading causes of injury.

The good news is that injuries from falls can be prevented or reduced by using the right equipment, taking precautions and following the rules.

Falls or collisions during sports and recreation activities are the leading cause of hospitalization due to injury for Canadians under 20 years of age. Some common serious injuries from a fall or collision are head injury, concussion or broken bones.

Activities that have an increased risk of falls include:
  • Cycling
  • Other wheeled sports (Inline skating, skateboarding and scootering)
  • Trampolines
  • Winter sports (Hockey, ice skating, downhill skiing, snowboarding)
Some basic guidelines for playing safer are:
  • Look first – understand the possible risks of your child’s activity and make a plan to play safer.
  • Wear the gear – there is a reason that different activities recommend different types of safety equipment. Goggles, helmets, footwear and more can help keep you reduce your child’s injury risk. Know about what is recommended for the activity.
  • Get trained – help your child develop the skills needed for the activity
  • Learn the rules – most sports and leisure activities have sort of rules. Team sports have rules of play and conduct. Cycling and other wheeled sports have rules around where you can ride and how to interact with other “traffic”.
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