The Kids’ Run Club, now in its eighth year, aims to educate children about the importance of leading a physically active and healthy life while giving them an opportunity to be active through running. Its goal is to instill the importance of regular physical activity in children so they form habits that become part of their everyday lives as adults.

The program

• Kids' Run Club is a free, school-based running program designed to get children and youth active.
• Winner of the 2006 Health Promotion and Innovation Award of Excellence from the Canadian Institute of Child Health.
• More than 15,500 kids from 215 schools across the province participated in 2010-11.
• School groups run together one to three times a week.
• Participants build their endurance in order to complete a final fun run of 2.1, 4.2 or 5 kilometres.
• Doctors Nova Scotia provides all participants with a runner’s handbook when they join and a finisher's prize at the conclusion of the program.
• All schools receive the Coach’s Handbook and a form letter which can be altered as necessary and sent home to parents.
• Healthy Living Challenge encourages participants to eat well, stay active, and reduce their screen time.
• The Running log allows participants to track their progress.

The participants

• Students in elementary, junior high and high schools across the province. Previous experience with running isn't a prerequisite as Kids' Run Club can be adapted in terms of the amount of walking and running done by participants.
• Group size can range from just a few to more than 100.
• Participants encouraged to celebrate all their hard work by taking part in a youth run such as those at the Cape Breton Fiddlers Run in Sydney or the Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon in Halifax.

The coaches

• Coaches can be school staff, parents, peer leaders or community members.
• Where the lead coach is a parent, a roster of staff volunteers can be used to reduce the staff time commitment required.
• Number of coaches required will depend on the size of the group, the age of the participants, and the type of running route chosen.
• It is ideal to have several adults involved to ensure safety and motivate participants.
• School staff is encouraged to recruit parent and community volunteers.

Pros of Kids' Run Club

• Offered at no cost to schools or students
• Walk/jog approach allows everyone to participate
• Minimal preparation time; Kids' Run Club representatives help each school tailor the program
• Success is self-defined
• Built-in incentives
• Non-competitive
• Improves school morale and teacher-student, teacher-parent relationships
• Opportunity to involve parents
• Can be incorporated into curriculum or done as an extracurricular program
• No minimum or maximum number of participants required

---

Disclaimer

The information contained in the Kids' Run Club section is to help youth learn the basics about running. It is important to have adult supervision when taking on any new type of physical activity and to consult a physician prior to exercising if any health conditions are present which could affect one’s ability to be active.

The recommended distances are guidelines and may not be suitable for all individuals. It is important for individuals to listen to their bodies and not do too much too soon. Having an adult supervise youth who are learning to run will help ensure the youth are doing suitable amounts of exercise for their current fitness levels.

Doctors Nova Scotia, its directors, employees and program partners aren't legally liable for any injuries sustained as a result of taking part in activities suggested in the Kids' Run Club Runner’s Handbook or on doctorsNS.com.