Are your kids getting more screen time than playtime? Now that electronics are only ever a fingers reach away, the typical Canadian kid spends an average of seven hours and 48 minutes a day in front of television, video games, smartphones and computer screens. 
March 23 – 29, 2015 is Unplug and Play week, a campaign by ParticipACTION. Join other Canadian families who took the pledge to #UnplugAndPlay for at least 60 minutes a day. The ParticipACTION website has a host of resources and ideas to help families participate.
The relationship between physical activity and mental health in children has been well documented. One affects the other. Increased levels of physical activity can generate significantly improved mental health outcomes for all children such as improving their self-esteem and lowering depression, anxiety, psychological distress and emotional disturbance. This is especially true, when physical activity is combined with other important social determinants of health such as access to nutritious foods and social inclusion and support.
Read about more about the links between mind and body and some initiatives addressing this connection on the CMHA Ontario website.