Do parents know how physically active their sons and daughters are? Every now and then, parents get to see their children's report cards and find out how the school rates their performance in physical education. Perhaps it would be a good exercise to turn the tables around and grade the school for a change...

Take the following quiz to find out how your child's school rates in terms of its physical education program:

If all 10 answers are "yes," your child's school has an EXCELLENT program. If you have between 6 and 8 "yes" answers, the program is GOOD. If you have fewer than 6 "yes" answers, find out more about what the school offers and seek ways to persuade the administration to implement better programs. If you don't know the answer to some of the questions, the time to find out is now! Ask your child and principal (or some school representative) about the school program.

If your child does not look forward to physical education classes or intramural programs, find out why. Is it lack of interesting activities? too much competition? awkwardness or self-consciousness? A well-balanced, quality physical education program should offer a wide variety of physical activities. It should teach the knowledge and the attitudes necessary to develop efficient movement skills. Whatever your child's difficulty, see how the physical education program can be improved to meet his or her needs. Support teachers' efforts to create a positive attitude toward physical activity.

Become involved in your school's physical education program. To find out how you can make a difference, send away to the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance for a parent's kit about Quality Daily Physical Education, and to the Canadian Intramural Recreation Association at the same address about further information on intramurals and student leadership.