Childrens Activity Preferences, 2000

1
Childrens Activity Preferences, 2000 2005

• In 2000, 28 of parents reported that their
  children preferred being active, 17 reported
  that they preferred quiet activities, and the
  remaining 55 reported liking both equally.
  Generally speaking, these percentages did not
  change significantly over time.
• In 2005, mothers were more likely than fathers to
  state that their child prefers to be physically
  active whereas fathers were more likely to report
  that their child prefers quiet activities.

2
Childrens Activity Preferences by Childs Age
and Sex, 2005

• In 2005, parents were more likely to indicate
  that their young children (aged 5 to 12) liked
  both types of activity equally, whereas parents
  of teens were more likely to state that their
  child prefers quiet activities.

3
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Education Level, 2005

• There were no significant differences in
  childrens activity preferences by parent level
  of education in 2005.

4
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Activity Level, 2005

• In 2005, parents with the lowest level of
  activity were the least likely to indicate that
  their children like both types of activity
  equally (48) and are most likely to report that
  their child prefers quiet activities.

5
Childrens Activity Preferences, 2000 2005

• In 2005, 13 of parents reported that their
  children preferred organized sports and physical
  activities, 38 reported that their children
  preferred unorganized physical activities, 46
  reported that their children liked both equally,
  and the remaining 3 reported that their children
  did not like either type of activity.
• These percentages did not change significantly
  from 2000, nor did they vary significantly
  between mothers and fathers in 2005.

6
Childrens Activity Preferences by Childs Age
and Sex, 2005

• Older children are more likely than younger
  children to reportedly prefer unorganized
  activities whereas younger children are more
  likely to prefer a combination of these
  activities.

7
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Education Level, 2005

• University educated parents are more likely than
  college educated parents to indicate that their
  children participate in organized activities.
• Adults completing secondary school are more
  likely than college educated parents to report
  that their child participates in unorganized
  activities.

8
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Activity Level, 2005

• In 2005, the least active parents are more likely
  to indicate that their children prefer
  unorganized activities (50), and less likely to
  indicate that their children like both organized
  and unorganized activities equally (33) compared
  to moderately active adults.

9
Childrens Activity Preferences, 2000 2005

• In 2005, 23 of parents reported that their
  children preferred vigorous physical activities,
  29 reported that their children preferred
  moderate-intensity activities, and 46 reported
  that their children liked both types of activity
  equally. These percentages did not change
  significantly from those reported in 2000.
• In 2005, fathers were more likely than mothers to
  indicate that their child prefers moderate
  activities, whereas mothers were more likely to
  state that their child likes both types of
  activities equally well.

10
Childrens Activity Preferences by Childs Age
and Sex, 2005

• In 2005, teens are reportedly more likely to
  prefer moderate activities compared to younger
  children. This is particularly evident among
  girls.

11
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Education Level, 2005

• There were no significant differences in
  childrens activity intensity preferences by
  parent level of education in 2000 or 2005.

12
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Activity Level, 2005

• In 2005, the least active parents were more
  likely to report that their child prefers
  moderate intensity activities compared to active
  parents.

13
Childrens Activity Preferences, 2005

• In 2005, 16 of parents reported that their
  children preferred competitive physical activity,
  35 reported that their children preferred
  non-competitive physical activity, 46 reported
  that their children like both types of activity
  equally, and the remaining 3 reported that their
  children do not like either type of activity.
  These percentages did not differ significantly by
  parent sex.

14
Childrens Activity Preferences by Childs Age
and Sex, 2005

• Teens are reportedly more likely to prefer
  non-competitive activities whereas younger
  children are more likely to report a preference
  for both types of activities.

15
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Education Level, 2005

• Parents with a college education are more likely
  than those with a secondary school education to
  indicate that their child prefers both types of
  activities.

16
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Activity Level, 2005

• The least active parents are more likely to
  report that their child prefers non-competitive
  activities, whereas active parents are more
  likely to indicate that their child likes both
  types of activities equally well.

17
Childrens Activity Preferences, 2005

• In 2005, 10 of parents reported that their
  children preferred participating in physical
  activities requiring a low skill level, 28
  reported that their children preferred
  challenging activities, and 62 reported that
  their children enjoy a combination of both types
  of activity. These percentages did not differ
  significantly by parent sex.

18
Childrens Activity Preferences by Childs Age
and Sex, 2005

• Younger children were reportedly more likely to
  prefer a combination of activities compared to
  teens.
• Teenage boys are reportedly more likely than
  younger boys to prefer challenging activities,
  whereas younger boys like both types of
  activities equally well.

19
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Education Level, 2005

• In 2005, parents with less than secondary
  education were more likely than parents overall
  to indicate that their children enjoyed a
  combination of low-skill and challenging
  activities (82).

20
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Activity Level, 2005

• There were no significant differences in terms of
  parent level of activity in their childrens
  reported skill preferences in 2005.

21
Childrens Activity Preferences, 2005

• In 2005, 24 of parents reported that their
  children participated in physical activity
  because they found it personally satisfying, 17
  reported that their children participated because
  it helped them accomplish specific goals, 13
  reported that they participated because their
  friends did, 39 said they were motivated by a
  combination of the factors, and 5 reported that
  none of these were significant factors.

22
Childrens Activity Preferences by Childs Age
and Sex, 2005

• Parents report that teenage children are more
  likely to participate in activities because their
  friends do.

23
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Education Level, 2005

• Parents with post-secondary education are more
  likely to indicate that their child participates
  in activity because they find it personally
  satisfying.
• Parents with secondary school education are more
  likely to indicate that their child participates
  in activity because their friends do.

24
Childrens Activity Preferences by Parents
Activity Level, 2005

• The least active adults are more likely than
  active parents to indicate that their child
  participate in activity because it helps them to
  accomplish specific goals.

25
Childrens Preferences for Activity, 2005

• A variety of unstructured or structured
  activities, with a varying degree of
  competitiveness, can address the participation
  needs of children with a range of skill and
  developmental capabilities. Moreover, an
  assortment of physical activities can appeal to
  the broad range of preferences of boys and girls
  of all ages.
• Communities and service providers can help
  develop both parents and childrens activity
  levels through programming that supports family
  activities or that encourages parents to take and
  active role in supporting their children by
  volunteering as part of their childrens physical
  activities.
• Recruit parents to be role models for their
  children for positive physically active
  behaviour.
• Provide balanced programming that is gender-,
  age-, and skill-appropriate as a means of
  increasing activity levels of children.