RECREATION refers to activities that you do during your free time.
The word recreation means to
recreate, or to be refreshed.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY means any indoor and outdoor activity undertaken for the purpose of
exercise, relaxation or pleasure, including practice or instruction in any such activity. Physical activity,
recreation and time spent outdoors are vital parts of a healthy lifestyle. Not only do recreational
activities provide great exercise, but they also have the potential to be engaging activities that can help
you center yourself, clear your mind or bond with friends and family. From the physical benefits to the
mood-boosting and mental advantages, we’ve rounded up all the reasons recreational activities are
great for your mind, body and soul.
Students like you are faced with lots of things to do in a day. Many of your activities are less physically
active (passive) that you don’t need to exert extra effort and energy, but others are physically active that
requires you to burn extra calories. The activities that you voluntarily participate in during your free time
are called RECREATION. Experts suggest that in choosing your recreational activities, it should be of your
interest and not of others. It should also be voluntary and not pressured by somebody, and lastly it should
meet your recreational satisfaction needs such as physiological, educational, social, relaxation,
physiological, and aesthetics. The less physically active activities that you are into bring alarming effect to
your health. Some of the activities today are sedentary in nature, requiring less energy consumption.
According to the World Health Organization, the 4th leading cause of disease is inactivity. This is due to
the popularity of the technological gadgets that you are up to and the poor health lifestyle. Due to this
alarming fact, you are encouraged to switch into a more active lifestyle by means of engaging to active
recreation.
WHAT IS ACTIVE RECREATION?
It Is defined as activities engaged in for the purpose of relaxation, health and wellbeing or enjoyment
with the primary activity requiring physical exertion, and the primary focus on human activity.
Recreation that uses the large muscles of the body is sometimes referred to as physical recreation. This
type is done during your free time just for enjoyment and relaxation.
Physical recreation activities that are vigorous enough to get your heart to beat faster are forms of
active recreation. Active recreational activities build cardiovascular fitness.
CLASSIFICATION OF RECREATION
Recreational activities give enjoyment because while recreating one engages in something he likes. They
are a source of joy and provide relaxation for one’s mind and body. Recreational activities can be grouped
into two groups: indoor and outdoor activities.
” We consider recreation as indoor when the activity is within the premises of your
comfort zone at home or inside a building. Recreation is outdoor when the activity is
undertaken in a natural, rural or open space outside the confines of buildings, usually
large land area that is close to nature”.
What’s the difference between a sport and a recreation?
Sport is competitive, recreation is fun and enjoyment based. Sports tend to have set rules. Practice is
undertaken to improve and get better in sport. Physical recreation can be laid back and based on a more
social time. Or could be hobbies. Sport generally considered an organized activity. I.E. Sports schedules.
OBJECTIVES OF ACTIVE RECREATION
1. Experience new activities
2. Develop friendships
3. Improve social skills
4. Build self-esteem
5. Encourage physical activity
6. Promote growth in identified abilities and interests
The Benefits of Recreation
Community Services provide a number of benefits to our community, which help strengthen families, build
healthy communities, improve the quality of life for Richmond residents, encourage the healthy
development of children and help inspire community leaders.
Below are the benefits taken from the Benefits of Recreation Catalogue.
Recreation is Essential to Personal Health
Recreation helps people live longer
Recreation prolongs independent living for seniors - keeping seniors vital and involved in
community life
Recreation and fitness significantly reduce the risk of different diseases.
Recreation and arts/culture enhance overall health and well-being
Recreation is a proven therapeutic tool - helping to restore physical, mental and social capacities
and abilities
Recreation is Key to Balanced Human Development
Recreation is essential to the development of our children and youth:
We learn motor skills (physical) through play and sports
We learn social skills through play and sports
We learn creativity through play and arts/cultural activities
We develop intellectual capacities and concepts through play - as well as many other life skills
Recreation provides the opportunity for adults to develop their full and holistic potential
Recreation is Essential to Quality of Life
Recreation and arts/culture build self-esteem and positive self-image
Recreation and arts/culture enhance life satisfaction levels
Recreation and arts/culture enhance perceived quality of life - for individuals, families and
communities
Recreation Reduces Self-Destructive and Anti-Social Behavior
Recreation, sports and arts/culture reduce self-destructive behavior and negative activity in youth -
an antidote to smoking, substance abuse, suicide and depression
Recreation and arts/culture can reduce crime
Recreation and arts/culture can reduce racism - building understanding between diverse cultures
Recreation Builds Strong Families and Healthy Communities
Families that play together, stay together
Recreation provides safe developmental opportunities for the latch-key child
Recreation, sports and arts/culture produce leaders who serve their communities in many ways
Arts/culture helps people understand their neighbors, their history and their environment
There are many different benefits that can be achieved by participating in leisure
opportunities. Most of these benefits fall within one of four categories.
Individual
Develops Personal Development and Growth
Physical Health
Self Esteem and Self Reliance
Creativity and Sense of Accomplishment
Creates more Fun
Enhances Pleasure
Reduces Stress
Increases Life Satisfaction
Promotes Psychological Well-being
Community
Connected Families -
Strengths Social Bonding
Ethnic and cultural Harmony
Reduces Alienation
Develops Strong Communities
Environmental
Reduces Pollution
Promotes Clean Air and Water
Preserves Open Space
Protects the Ecosystem
Increases Community Pride
Economic
Reduces Healthcare Cost
Reduces Vandalism and Crime
Enhances Property Value
Catalyst for Tourism
The way you live your life in an everyday basis is your lifestyle. These are the patterns of your behavior
on how you typically live. It includes eating habits, physical activity participation, and recreational choice.
Do you belong to the “technology generation?” Well, these are the people who choose to spend time in
front of the computer rather than playing sports, walking, and moving around. How about your eating
preferences? Today’s teenagers are seen in places like fast food chains indulging with unhealthy food such
as fries, burgers, and drinking too much sugary drinks that causes obesity.
Participation in active recreation influences your healthy lifestyle. It improves health condition in many
ways. It also helps you to use the calories better and sustain a desirable weight.
Lifestyle change is the best way of preventing illness and early death. Major causes of early death have
shifted from infectious diseases to chronic lifestyle-related conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and
diabetes.
https://www.richmond.ca/parksrec/about/mandate/benefits.htm
https://plentifun.com/objectives-of-recreation
