How Did the Pandemic Affect Kids Health? Part 1
Did the pandemic really affect kids that much??
Yes. Yes it. Did.
In October 2022, ParticipACTION released the 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth. This is Canada’s most comprehensive assessment of child and youth physical activity. There have been 15 edition of the Report Card, which gives a grade to Canadian kids on their levels of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, active transportation, sleep and other health factors.
This year, the grades were based on data collected both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to better assess the impact that this historic public health threat has had on kids’ movement behaviours.
Here’s what’s concerning: in 2022, only 28% of kids meet national physical activity guidelines. This is an 11% drop from 2020 and the major reason that Canadian children scored a “D” grade for Overall Physical Activity
Although it’s a dreary grade, we can’t be too surprised as there were some drastic in the ways that kids could access physical activity opportunities. In-person programs were cancelled, playgrounds were off-limits, access to outdoor recreational spaces was limited, and trying to manage a 3-year old to participate in a virtual class was nearly impossible.
As parents and children’s movement practitioners, most of us knew that the measures being used to protect public health were also depriving children of access to activities that help them grow, develop and be social.
In addition to the impact acknowledged through ParticipACTION’s Report Card, the Government of Canada also revealed that “young people have seen the greatest decline in good mental health compared to pre-pandemic levels”
Most children were inherently exposed to more family stressors than ever before, including work demands, balancing schedules, child care, financial stress and social isolation.
Parents and caregivers did their best, but the pandemic presented challenges that for many were impossible to buffer from children.
The younger generation of children today are returning to school and programs with heightened anxiety towards social settings and interactions, which can impact their sense of community and belonging, which are critical to one’s sense of wellness and wellbeing.
The Government of Canada announced $100 million of funding to support projects that promote mental health and prevent mental illness in populations disproportionately affected by the pandemic, which is an encouraging start, however no level of funding is ever effective without leaders on the ground in the community taking action everyday to serve those in need.
As so this is where we are today, in a rebuilding stage.
However we are not rebuilding from nothing.
Throughout the pandemic the recreation and education sectors demonstrated immeasurable resilience in continuing to find ways to support children and families in staying active.
The 2022 Report Card stated that the pandemic “helped us realize the invaluable ways that […] sport, play and physical activity, in all forms, contribute to the well-being of our children and youth”
As school teachers, recreation leaders, fitness instructors, martial arts teachers, personal trainers, yoga instructors, sports coaches, volunteers, parents, caregivers and any child wellness advocates, we all have a critical role to play in helping children along their individual physical literacy journey.
We must continue to teach, coach, program, design, inspire, encourage, lead and serve so that all children in our communities, no matter their age, ability, gender, race, religion or geography, can have the competence, confidence, and motivation to be active for life.
In Part 2 of this blog, I share what we’ve seen first-hand in our PL3Y kids fitness classes, and how I’m making changes to our programming and methodology to better meet the physical, emotional and social needs of kids today.