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Table 3 Messaging recommendations for the new Canadian Physical activity Guidelines for Children

From: Evidence-informed recommendations for constructing and disseminating messages supplementing the new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines

Preamble

These recommendations are relevant to all practitioners and organizations communicating the new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Children. These recommendations should be used to create a clear understanding of the new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for Children and to construct and to deliver messages that promote achievement of the guidelines.

Recommendations

Target Audience

Messages should target teachers, parents, and children.

Clarification Messages

It is imperative for parents and teachers to understand exactly what the guidelines are and that their role is pivotal in the physical activity that children engage in. Through teachers and parents, children will then understand, learn, and potentially make a habit of being active for a minimum of 60 minutes every day, and incorporating muscle and bone strengthening activities at least three times in a week.

Motivational Messages

Motivational messages for teachers should encourage them to act as role models, promoting physical activity throughout the school day.

Motivational messages for parents should reinforce: a) parents’ pivotal role in shaping their child’s interests and attitudes, b) that their support is positively associated with their child’s physical activity, and c) the importance of planning to be physically active with the family.

Motivational messages for children should be fun, cool, and socially appealing, and may benefit from targeting children’s confidence to engage in physical activity.

Examples

    Invest in your child’s future by planning for physical activity now.

Get Active. It’s Fun!

    Being active is as easy as a hop, skip, and a jump. You can do it.

Channels of Delivery

Messages should be disseminated to teachers through worksheets that provide practical resources on how to increase physical activity throughout the school day.

Messages should be disseminated to parents through mass media.

Messages should be disseminated to children through nongovernmental organizations (e.g., Boys and Girls’ Clubs) and mass media

  1. Key References
  2. Active Healthy Kids Canada website. (2009). 2009 Report Card. http://www.activehealthykids.ca
  3. Active Healthy Kids Canada website. (2011). 2011 Report Card. http://www.activehealthykids.ca
  4. Craig, C., Bauman, A., Gauvin, L., Robertson, J., & Murumets, K. (2009). ParticipACTION: A mass media campaign targeting parents of inactive children: Knowledge, saliency, and trialing behaviors. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6(1), 88.
  5. Dobbins, M., De Corby, K., Robeson, P., Husson, H., & Tirilis, D. (2009). School-based physical activity programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents aged 6-18. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1), CD007651.
  6. Huhman, M., Potter, L. D., Wong, F.L., Banspach, S.W., Duke, J.C., and Heitzler, C.D. (2005). Effects of a mass media campaign to increase physical activity among children: Year-1 results of the VERB campaign. Pediatrics, 116(2), e277-e284.
  7. Lubans, D. R., Foster, C., & Biddle, S. J. H. (2008). A review of mediators of behavior in interventions to promote physical activity among children and adolescents. Preventive Medicine, 47(5), 463-470.
  8. Naylor, P. J., Macdonald, H. A., Zebedee, J. A., Reed, K. E. and McKay, H. A. (2006). Lessons learned from Action Schools! BC – An “active school” model to promote physical activity in elementary schools. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 9, 413-423.
  9. Oates, C., Blades, M., and Gunter, B. (2003). Marketing to children. Journal of Marketing Management, 19(3-4), 401-409.
  10. Price, S. M., Huhman, M., & Potter, L. D. (2008). Influencing the parents of children aged 9-13 years: Findings from the VERB campaign. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 34(6 Suppl), S267-274.
  11. Rhodes, R. E., Naylor, P.J., and McKay, H.A. (2010). Pilot study of a family physical activity planning intervention among parents and their children. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 33(2), 91-100.
  12. Trudeau, F. and Shepherd, R. J. (2005). Contribution of school programmes to physical activity levels and attitudes in children and adults. Sports Medicine, 35(2), 89-105.
  13. Van Der Horst, K., Paw, M.J.C.A., Twisk, J.W.R., Van Mechelen, W. (2007). A brief review on correlates of physical activity and sedentariness in youth. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 39(8), 1241-1250.
  14. Welk, G. J., Wood, K., and Morss, G. (2003). Parental influences on physical activity in children: An exploration of potential mechanisms. Pediatric Exercise Science, 15, 19-33.
  15. Zecevic, C. A., Tremblay, L., Lovsin, T., and Lariviere, M. (2010). Parental influence on young children’s physical activity. International Journal of Pediatrics, 2010: 468526.
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BMC Public Health

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