News for May 2000
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Alarming Obesity Increase in Canadian Children
Mark Tremblay at the University of New Brunswick has been tracking weight and fitness patterns in Canadian children over the past two decades. Analysis of data shows that prevalence of obesity has more than doubled over a fifteen year period from 1981 to 1996. This deterioration of physical fitness coincides with reductions in physical eduction programs in schools. Physical education has been identified by many educators and parents as a frill with time and money better spent on more academic pursuits. Tremblays findings raise concerns about declining self-esteem and effects on health in adulthood where inactivity could result in accelerated onset of chronic disease and a premature loss of human resources and productivity. A related policy brief can be read at http://www.unb.ca/crisp/pbrief7.html
New TVO Web Site is On-Line Community Centre for Kids
In March, Ontario's TVO launched a web site tied to its television series The House aimed at 9-year-olds. This site stands out because it was developed with significant input from children and continues to respond to suggestions which arrive from children daily. The "community centre" consists of multiple "rooms" each containing animated characters and providing interactive games, puzzles, projects and forums intended to encourage reading, writing and critical thinking skills. http://www.tvo.org/thehouse
Updated May 9, 2000