Our Kids Aren’t Moving Enough. More Play Might Be the Answer.

A recent Toronto Star article about B2ten and the work they are doing to get more Canadian kids moving really stood out to me. It was encouraging to see another organization recognizing a problem that parents, coaches and communities can see happening right in front of us. Kids simply aren't moving enough. They have more technology, entertainment and organized activities than ever, but often less time to simply move. Run. Jump. Climb. Skate. Fall down and try again. Canadian guidelines recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity every day, but far too many kids aren't getting there.

What stood out even more is how sharply activity drops as kids get older. Recent Statistics Canada data shows that roughly 52% of Canadian kids ages 5 to 11 meet recommended activity levels, compared with only about 21% of youth ages 12 to 17. That's a significant drop, and it reinforces how important it is to build the habit early. Before kids become hockey players, soccer players or athletes of any kind, they first need to become comfortable moving their bodies and confident enough to keep trying. Movement starts with play.

We also sometimes make physical activity more complicated than it needs to be. It doesn't always need another team, practice, coach or scheduled hour. We don't need more pressure. We need more play. Sometimes it's simply having something nearby that makes kids want to move. A basketball net in the driveway. Bikes in the garage. A soccer ball in the backyard. A playground down the street. A place to skate or shoot a puck. Easy access creates more chances to play, and when kids can start on their own, activity becomes more natural.

That same thinking is a big part of what we're trying to build with 365 Ice. Real ice will always be a huge part of hockey, but access comes with schedules, travel, availability and cost. A skateable synthetic ice space creates another option at home, in a school, community centre, academy or training facility. And it doesn't always have to be "training." Sometimes the best thing a kid can do is grab a stick, chase a puck, try something new, play with a friend or sibling, and figure things out on their own. It doesn't have to feel like training to be valuable.

At the end of the day, this issue is much bigger than hockey or synthetic ice. If we want more active adults, we need to give kids more opportunities to become active kids first. Organized sport matters, but it can't be the only answer. Parents, schools, municipalities, recreation facilities and organizations like B2ten are all trying to solve pieces of the same problem by making movement easier to access. The goal isn't to raise professional athletes. It's to raise kids who love to move. For us at 365 Ice, that's what Unlock More Play is really about: more access, more chances to move, more time to play, and hopefully habits that last long after minor hockey.