A new study was released today in Canada which shows that children under the age of five are not getting the appropriate amount of physical activity, and this is leading to future health and weight problems. This is a serious concern.

I did a segment on CTVNewsChannel today to share some tips on how to incorporate easy family activities into your life. Click here to watch.

Prior to the segment,I of course went out to my Twitter pals to gather some “Real Parent” information on how they keep their little ones active. The overwhelming response was to get them outside, away from “screens”, and into fun, retro games like tag, Red Light Green Light, running through the sprinkler, washing the car, scavenger hunts as well as going on hikes, bike riding and ball playing.

I recommend you go to www.participaction.com for ideas if you’re finding you’re stuck on what to do.

But as far as Moms are concerned, I recommend the following activities to keep you in perfect Mom form. The good news is…you’re already doing most of these.

•Hurdling: We’re running 10 minutes late for a doctor’s appointment, and due to an unfortunate incident involving fighting siblings and an errant softball throw, I’m jumping over knapsacks, skateboards, laundry baskets, and assorted rubbery clog shoes to get to the family room, retrieve the crying child’s favourite blankie (which will cure the pain of course) and get back out the door before the doctor decides to punish ME for being late…for once.

•Sprinting: Yep, that’s me, running through the aisles of the grocery store. Bought all the ingredients for my daughter’s special dinner, but forgot her favourite topping – get out of the way old lady I need to get to the sour cream and back again before the cashier abandons my order (yes those are my kids wandering the parking lot – I was only supposed to be five minutes!)

•Long Distance Running: “Long”, being a virtual thing. Yes, the 1000 meters to the park seems like 10,000 when towing along a screaming six year old who desperately needs to go pee but simultaneously doesn’t want to leave his friends on the jungle gym.

•Long Jump: From one side of the family room to the other just in time to catch the spilling chocolate milk from hitting Daddy’s precious rug.

•Water Polo: More like Water Haul-O, an annoying and exhausting event created by Dads which involves inexplicably picking up and hurling young children from one end of the pool to another. Oh, where’s Dad? Resting his weary arms at work while I pick up the slack (a.k.a. the kid). Again! Again!

•Beach Volleyball: Yes there’s nothing quite so attractive as watching a mother of four in an ill advised bikini, leap about on the beach trying to wrestle the Monsters Inc beach ball from a teasing teenage brother and return it to its rightful teary younger sibling.

•Javelin: This wasn’t a physical sort of javelin throw attempt, rather a metaphysical or “shooting daggers” style of competition which took place during a fight between my two children while other pleasantly disposed children played like lambs at a public swimming pool.

•Weight Lifting: No, not my own girth off the couch but the Herculean effort of carrying the Wal-Mart disposable shopping bags which are ubiquitously filled with juice, milk, pop and heavy frozen items. Could they have made these bags any bigger? Can one of you kids get the one full of bread? Sheesh.

So you see Moms, we’re already on top of this increased fitness routine. Maybe we should just send Dad out to “take a hike”. With the kids, of course.