Keep your kids active this summer

Summer break is almost here, which means younger kids may not know what to do with themselves. Here's how, and why, you should keep them active.

When summer hits, kids may be tempted to sleep in then wake up and watch TV. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA), however, warn against that.

The latest research shows that not only does excessive screen time have a negative impact on children's physical health, but it can also impact brain development, social skills and mental health.

For school-age children, the Canadian Paediatric Society recommends spending less than two hours of screen time a day, while the Public Health Agency of Canada reports that 74.5 percent of children and youth exceed that limit.

So what can you do instead? WRHA says there are many simple screen-free activities that have benefits for healthy development. These include reading a book, playing board games, going for a walk, or learning a new skill, like Hacky Sack, juggling, or dancing.

Another option is to take your kid geocaching. Geocaching "is a world wide treasure hunt, using the GPS system to find containers hidden outdoors," said Mike Neale, Vice President of the Manitoba Geocaching Association.

"As an outdoor activity, Geocaching encourages us to get out and explore our local area and the world beyond, sometimes discovering places in our own community that we didn't know were there," Neale said. "We are often hiking or walking short or long distances to reach geocache hides, a great way to encourage physical fitness."

What kind of places can you find? Neale says he found a geocache in a 2,000 year old temple in the heart of Madrid, Spain. "The temple was moved, stone by stone, from Egypt as a gift to Spain."

What are you going to do to keep your kids active this summer? Let us know in the comments below.