RBC Learn to Play Project
Being physically active is an important part of the overall health and well-being of children and youth. However, only four percent of Canadian children are getting the recommended amount of daily physical activity.
Not having the physical skills or confidence can be a barrier for children and youth to participate in physical activity and sport and, as a result, push them towards more inactive and/or unhealthy choices during the day, including their leisure time.
To help make physical activity and active living more accessible to children, youth and their families, the Public Health Agency of Canada (Agency) has partnered with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and ParticipACTION to support the RBC Learn to Play Project. The main goal of the Project is to help organizations incorporate basic movement skill training into their sport and recreation programs. The Learn to Play Project teaches children and youth the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to confidently and competently participate in daily physical activity and sport. It aims to help enhance fundamental movement and motor skills like agility, balance and coordination, and teach the appropriate use of equipment and facilities so participants can be active, play safe and prevent injury.
The Agency and RBC are investing over $8.2 million in this initiative over the next three years, which will contribute to approximately 180 community programs this year alone.
This is one of the many partnerships being created by the Agency's Multi-Sectoral Partnership Approach to Promote Healthy Living and Prevent Chronic Disease, which invests $20 million per year in projects that focus on addressing common risk factors, such as physical inactivity, unhealthy eating and tobacco use.
Multi-sectoral approaches involving all areas of society including communities, academia, the charitable and not-for-profit sector as well as the private sector, are required to address complex social issues such as childhood obesity and the prevention of chronic diseases. By engaging multiple sectors of society, partners can leverage knowledge, expertise, reach and resources, allowing each to do what it does best, in working towards the common shared goal of producing better health outcomes for Canadians.
For more information on the RBC Learn to Play Project visit the Learn to Play website.
