Children's recreation is affected by their family income level. Good communities can lessen the harmful effects of being poor. Poor children living in a good, civic community are more apt to engage in supervised sports than are poor children living in a less civic community. Health Status School-aged children are faring well, although injuries remain high and respiratory illness is on the rise. Injuries and cancer are the leading causes of death among school-aged children.
Respiratory illness is a leading cause of hospitalization.
Physical activity varies by income - and the participation gap is growing. Female students aged 15 to 17 were almost twice as likely as their male counterparts to consider themselves to be workaholics. Child hunger persists in Canada. 62,000 children went hungry at least once in 1996. Social Engagement Most school-aged children have close friends.