More than just resources needed to get kids moving, expert says

A new approach trying to building community could be what’s needed to help kids get away from screens and do more running around.

ParticipAction’s report card this week showed that during the pandemic, kids were doing less physical activity and were spending more time in front of screens.

It’s something that isn’t exactly surprising to Brian Lewis, the executive director of Growing Young Movers (G.Y.M.) youth development — a group that tries to build community for kids through movement.

“A lot of people think, ‘How are we going to get them to move? How are we going to get kids to move?’ I try to look at it (as) ‘How do we get them connected to community of movers, people that are moving?’ ” said Lewis.

He’s been doing this kind of work for a long time — he’s also a part-time teacher — and said people have been doing the same things for years to try to get kids to move more.

“You can give all the tips of how to move — go outside, roll up some socks, play catch with your kids — but I think I’ve learned over time that if there’s a connection to community and you feel like a community and you feel like you belong somewhere, that can help,” said Lewis.

He gave running events and marathons as examples. People don’t necessarily do them to win the race, it’s more about the community and doing it with other people.

In the programming G.Y.M. does, Lewis said he’s seen kids who might not have the structure elsewhere come out and really enjoy the activities.

“The kids in our program run around for 90 minutes and they’re sweating bullets and they don’t even know, they’re just happy to be there with other people and older kids,” explained Lewis.

But in his work he’s also seen things take the opposite turn because of how they’re structured.

“It’s not inclusive; it’s more of an elitism thing (and) it’s more a competition. That works for some but it really turns a lot of kids off,” said Lewis.

“There’s just different ways you can do things that get more kids playing and moving, and learning as they’re moving. They’re getting better at movement and they don’t even know it.”

How to get kids moving more is the million-dollar question, according to Lewis. He said it might not just be dropping kids off at a sport where they don’t necessarily know anyone, it could be a matter of framing things differently, away from just giving kids resources to helping them find a connection with the movement.

“We could open a gym and say, ‘We’ve got every new game (and) all the equipment you want.’ Is that going to continually bring kids there if … the same things can happen where you’re excluded or you don’t feel like you’re welcome or no one’s paying attention to you?” said Lewis.