ParticipACTION releases Canada's first-ever Report Card on Physical Activity for children aged 0 to 4 years

New research highlights early movement successes and important areas for growth

TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2026 /CNW/ -- Today, ParticipACTION released its 2026 Report Card on Physical Activity for the Early Years, marking Canada's first-ever national Report Card focused exclusively on children ages 0 to 4 years.

The Report Card provides the most comprehensive assessment ever conducted of movement behaviours among children of this age group and establishes a national benchmark to help track progress in the years ahead, bringing new attention to a critical stage of development that has historically received less focus than the school-aged years.

"This is an important first-of-its-kind milestone for Canada," said Brian Torrance, President and CEO of ParticipACTION. "Physical inactivity is a major public health issue, and we now have a clearer picture of how Canada's youngest are moving. This knowledge can help governments make informed investments and shape policies, organizations and community planners expand opportunities for active play, educators support healthy movement in early learning settings and families make everyday choices that help children in the early years thrive."

The Report Card reveals a promising start for Canada's youngest, with 67% of children in the early years meeting the physical activity recommendation and 80% meeting the sleep recommendation. It also shows that there are critical movement behaviour gaps that need to be addressed, with fewer than half (48%) meeting the screen time recommendation and only 25% meeting all three age-specific physical activity, sleep and screen time recommendations in the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years.

While many children in the early years in Canada are physically active, they don't all have the same movement opportunities. The Report finds that young children in lower-income households have less access to recreation facilities and playgrounds. They're also less likely to participate in structured physical activity (e.g., swimming lessons, soccer, dance classes). Similar gaps exist between rural and urban communities, as well as across racialized and non-racialized populations.

"Establishing healthy movement patterns during the early years is essential for optimal growth and development," said Dr. Valerie Carson, Chief Scientific Officer, ParticipACTION Report Card. "The Report's findings and recommendations help build a path forward for supporting a healthy balance of movement behaviours at home, in early childhood education settings and in communities. Creating opportunities for movement in the early years needs to be a public health priority for lifelong health and well-being."

Moving more, engaging in less sedentary behaviour and sleeping adequately in the early years can help support brain, bone, muscle and language development, emotional well-being and lifelong healthy movement behaviours.

Governments, families, caregivers, educators, health-care professionals, organizations and communities all have a role to play in building healthy movement patterns and ensuring equitable access to movement opportunities. Collective action can create the conditions for children in the early years to move, play and thrive, while laying the foundation for a more active and healthy Canada.

About the Report Card

ParticipACTION's Report Card on Physical Activity for the Early Years provides the most comprehensive assessment of movement behaviours among young children in Canada, and it synthesizes the best available national, pan-Canadian and regional data on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep.

Since its inception in 2004, Canada's Report Card model has been replicated in more than 70 cities, provinces/states and countries, serving as a globally recognized blueprint for monitoring, synthesizing and communicating evidence on the physical activity of young people around the world.

About ParticipACTION

ParticipACTION is a national charitable organization that envisions a Canada where physical activity is a vital part of everyday life for everyone. As Canada's leading physical activity organization, ParticipACTION works with its partners, which include organizations in the sport, physical activity and recreation sectors, alongside government and corporate sponsors, to help people move more where they live, learn, work and play. ParticipACTION is generously supported by the Government of Canada. Learn how ParticipACTION has been moving Canadians for over 50 years at ParticipACTION.com.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Felicia Simon
Senior Consultant
Proof Strategies
[email protected]
705-746-1711

SOURCE ParticipACTION