Fitness: Get outdoors and play, whether young or old

With the cold weather closing in and winter soon upon us, Canadians are getting into hibernation mode. Bikes are in storage, summer running gear is at the back of the closet and kayaks and paddle boards are stowed away until next spring. But as much as we love to cozy up under a blanket and binge watch Netflix during the winter months, it’s important to make getting outside a daily habit.

This is especially true for kids who even in the best weather need prodding to step away from their screens. During the summer, getting outdoors is easy. But playgrounds are less inviting in the cold weather months and pulling on boots, snow pants and the rest of winter’s gear is a barrier to spontaneous outdoor play. But kids need to move, a statement that seems obvious, but only 39 per cent of Canadian