Fantastic fitness activities for kids

Signing your child up for a fun fitness activity is a great way to help them lose weight and get healthy. If they do something that they truly enjoy, it is going to be a lot easier for them to stay on track. From African dance to capoeira to Pilates, there are so many different activities that they can try.

There is an added bonus to signing up for children’s fitness programs: Canadian parents who register their child in a program of physical activity are eligible for an annual tax credit of up to $500 per child. For more information on this great government incentive, click here.

Here are some of the fun programs being offered across Canada:

Alberta

• City of Edmonton recreation centres offer a number of great classes, including:

-       Hip Hop & Funk, for ages 11 – 17. Cost is $80 for 8 sessions.

-       Break dancing 101, for ages 11 – 17. Cost is $75 for 8 sessions.

• At the Westside Recreation Centre, in Calgary, your child could take part in:

-       Mini-basketball, for ages 3 – 5. Cost is $64 for 6 sessions.

-       Cirque-Us Tots, (gymnastics, clowning, dance & drama) for ages 2 – 3. Cost is $56 for 7 sessions.

-       Ohm kids yoga, for ages 7 – 9. Cost is $96 for 8 sessions.

-       Girls only basketball, for ages 6 – 9 and 10 – 12. Cost is $76 for 8 sessions.

And many other fun activities, check the centre’s brochure for details.

British Columbia

• Fencing lessons, for ages 8 – 14, are held at the La Salle Fencing Studio in Vancouver. Cost is $84.50 for 8 classes.
• African Dance, classes for all ages are facilitated by Moondance Dynamic Arts School at various locations in Shawnigan Lake, on Vancouver Island. Costs approx $84 for 7 classes.
• At the Roundhouse Community Centre, in Vancouver, your child could take part in:

-       Basic Ballet, for ages 5 – 7. Cost is $70 for 11 sessions.

-       Aikido, for ages 6 – 12. Cost is $25 per month.

-       In-line skating, for ages 5 – 10. Cost is $82 for 11 sessions.

And many other fun activities. Check the centre’s brochure for details.

• At the Abbotsford Recreation Centre, kids can do the following classes (and many more):

-       Irish step dance, for ages 6 – 7. Cost is $47 for 7 sessions.

-       Beginners karate, for ages 6 – 12. Cost is $180 for 24 sessions.

-       Basketball, for ages 7 – 12. Cost is $44 for 7 sessions.

Manitoba

• Zumba kids (Latin, hip-hop and international dance moves), for kids ages 8 - 12, held at the Pan Am Pool in Winnipeg. Cost is $56 for 10 classes.
• Sikaran (Filipino martial art), for ages 7 – adult, at the Cindy Klassen Rec. Centre in Winnipeg. Cost is $56 for 10 classes.
• Badminton, for ages 9 – 12, at Bronx Park Community Centre in Winnipeg. Cost is $40 for 8 classes.
• Table Tennis, for ages 8 – 11 and 12+, at Crescentwood Community Centre in Winnipeg. Cost is $16 for 6 classes.

(For more info on the programs listed above, and many more in the Winnipeg area, click here.)

New Brunswick

• Ultimate Frisbee, for middle and high school students, is facilitated by Fredericton Ultimate. Cost is $30 for 8 sessions (and includes a Frisbee).

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Ball Hockey, for ages 12 – 15, at the HGR Mews Community Centre in St Johns. Cost is $9.95 per session.

Nova Scotia

• Cape Breton Step Dance, for kids ages 5 - 12, at the LeBrun Centre in Halifax. Cost is $38 for 10 classes.
• Golf Lessons, for ages 12-18, at Prince Andrew High School in Dartmouth. Cost is $40 for 6 classes.
• Horseback Riding, for ages 8 – 11, operates out of Windgate Farm in Fall River. Cost is $47 for 4 classes.
• Skipping classes, for ages 5 – 8, at O’Connell Drive Elementary in Porter’s Lake. Cost is $16 for 6 classes.

(For more info on the programs listed above, and hundreds of others in the area, click here.)

Ontario

• Box-on (boxing techniques, no physical contact), for kids ages 8 - 12, held at the Adie Knox Rec. Complex in Windsor. Cost is $67 for 6 sessions.
• Yoga, for ages 6 - 12, at Oakwood Community Centre in Windsor. Cost is $24 for 6 sessions.
• Cheerleading, for ages 6 – 13, at Forest Glade Community Centre. Cost is $26 for 6 classes.
• Cycling, for ages 8 – 12, at Gino A Marcus Community Centre in Windsor. Cost is $24 for 6 classes.

(For more info on the programs listed above, and hundreds of others in the Windsor area, click here.)

• Dodgeball, for ages 10 – 13, is held at East Bayfield Community Centre in Barrie. Cost is $62.50 for 8 sessions.
• Cross Country 101, for grades 5 – 8, is held at Holly Community Centre in Barrie. Cost is $70 for 8 sessions.
• Monkeynastix, for ages 6 – 8, is held at Lampman Lane Community Centre in Barrie. Cost is $104 for 8 sessions.

(For more info on programs in the Barrie area, click here.)

Prince Edward Island

• Table Tennis, for anyone under age 18, at the Prince Edward Island Table Tennis Association. Cost to join association is $55 per year, with practice once a week for novice players, and twice a week for more advanced players.  

Quebec

• Ringette, for ages 4 to adult, is played at Lynx Ringette in Pierrefonds. Costs range from $175 per season for the 4 – 7 age group, to $355 for ages 16 – 18.
• Irish dancing, for ages 4 – adult, at the Bernadette Short School of Irish Dancing, in Chateauguay. Costs vary.

 Saskatchewan

• Learn to skate, for ages 6 – 9 years, at the NE Quarter Lions Arena in Saskatoon. Cost is $61 for 5 sessions.

The Yukon

• Beginners tennis, for ages 7 – 9 and 10 -13, at the Canada Games Centre in Whitehorse.

 Northwest Territories

• Dog sledding, for ages 8 – 14. Through the City of Yellowknife Recreation Program. Cost is $25 per session.

 Nunavut

• T-ball (for ages 5 – 7), softball (for ages 8 -12), and snow tubing (all ages) are organized through the City of Iqaluit Recreation and Community Services Department.