Activate Aurora teaches more than 300 physical literacy through play

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 17, 2017
By Teresa Latchford

The only thing better than hearing a child play is hearing hundreds.

On Jan. 16, more than 300 students, teachers, locally trained leaders, Sport Aurora coaches and parents headed to the Aurora Sports Dome for some child’s play. The event is part of Activate Aurora’s PLAY Days initiative, a program that uses skill-based play to build physical literacy skills in children. Activate Aurora is an initiative that aims to make Aurora the most active community in Canada.

Parents were invited to see how skill-based play can improve physical literacy and learn how to encourage locomotor, stability and object-manipulation skills used by their children outside of school hours.

The idea is to build competence and confidence in movement while having fun. The more enjoyable an activity, the more likely children will continue to participate in a healthy and active way.

Rick Hansen Public School is the first Activate Aurora designated school to deliver consistent physical literacy programming through before and after school programs, instructor training and PLAY Days. The initiative is a joint effort between the town, school board and Activate Aurora to help students and teachers explore skill-based play that can be used in and out of the classroom.

For more about the initiative, visit activateaurora.com.