Parents and Families

39 Fun Ways for Families to Play Outside This Spring

The sun is getting warmer, birds are singing, and my children are shedding their winter gear all over our backyard. Spring is in the air! After the long sleep of winter, nature is filled with a flutter of activity and new energy. Trees are exploding with blooms, insects are buzzing, and critters are busy building nests. The kids are full of energy too! Thankfully, spring offers many simple, easy, and fun outdoor activities for children to get their wiggles out. On that note, here are 39 free and easy activities you can share with parents to get them outside with the kids this spring.

Ideas to Share with Parents: Cheap or Free At-Home Activities for Kids

How can parents encourage their children to live a healthy, active life while sticking to a budget? They can try these simple tasks and activities to see how simple it can be to get kids enjoying active play and moving daily at home!


29 Fun Games to Play in the Snow

Kids love to play in fresh snow. Building a snowman can be fun, but there are so many other activities kids can do to have fun and keep moving once winter comes along. From sledding to snowball fights, catching snowflakes and making snow angels, wintertime affords the whole family so many options and so much fun. Here is a list of fun games that you can share with parents to encourage some family fun in the snow this year!

Video and Posters: Easy Habits for Managing Kids’ Screen Time

Too much screen time hurts kids. It keeps them from active play and it causes them anxiety, depression and other problems. Yet trying to “control” screen time can be a real challenge. Here's a quick, 1-minute video and printable posters to share with parents!

How to partner with parents of children with Autism

CNC programs care for diverse groups of children, including those with ASD. ASD stands for Autism Spectrum Disorder, and there is a wide range of characteristics when it comes to diagnoses. Some children will function on a level where there are little to no noticeable behaviors whereas some will need one on one support. No matter where the child fits on the spectrum, here are some ways you can partner with parents and be sure that you are prepared and welcoming to any and all children in your program.

Ideas to share with parents: Activities for kids during winter break

Winter holidays are coming, and children will be out of school for two weeks! Some will travel abroad with their family, while many others will stay at home. No matter where they are, here are a few ideas to share with parents to help keep their children active and engaged during the upcoming winter holidays.

Introduction to Positive Discipline – Available in 7 Languages

The Introduction to Positive Discipline tips sheets, video, and facilitation guide are part of the Family Life in Canada resource series. The goal of this series is to help newcomers adjust to life in Canada and encourage them to access information, programs, and services in their community. All you have to do is sign up to get access to the free resources that are available in 7 languages - making them easy to use with the newcomer families you work with! 


Active Start

From 0-6 years, children need to be engaged in daily active play. Through play and movement, they develop fundamental movement skills and learn how to link them together. At this stage developmentally appropriate activities are important to help children feel competent and comfortable participating in all kinds of fun and challenging play!


Active Start newsletter for parents

Do you work with parents of young children? Active Start is a monthly newsletter, by our partners at Active for Life, for parents with children under the age of 4. It’s tailored specifically to the age of the child and filled with activities, games, ideas, and tips designed to help children fall in love with physical activity. And it’s all presented in a fun way for parents and children to enjoy together. You can preview the program and parents may subscribe here.


Active for life resources are available in more than 10 languages!

Physical activity is key to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of our children. That’s why Active for Life offers free resources in more than 10 languages, in addition to English and French, to help get kids active today so they can be active for life. Share these helpful resources with families, communities, and organizations that work with children, and they will thank you!