5 WAYS TO GET YOUR KIDS TO MOVE MORE

Only 18% of our children exercise for the recommended 60 minutes a day. Bethan Rose Jenkins finds new ways to encourage them to be active

Our selection of exercises and activities will encourage your children to be active

TAME THE TECH

Technology doesn’t have to be an indoors only activity. The latest trend is interactive sport, dance and exploring games that you can download to help get your tech-addicted kids out to embrace exercise. For outdoor fun, try the free The Wildlife Trusts Nature Finder app, which allows you to specify a location and identify and learn about local nature, wildlife and habitats. Likewise, the Rebecca Plants Curiosity Cards app flicks between 50 open-ended questions to help engage children in outdoor environments, asking things like: what could we build with what is around us?

GO FORAGING

No need to go into Bear Grylls survival mode: gentle family foraging trips are an increasingly popular outdoor activity. As part of workshops, tours or self-led excursions (using an abundance of newly-available guides), you can explore the wilderness and seek out a host of plants. Take the kids on an adventure through the undergrowth and work together to identify different plants and their uses. Some workshops even offer a cooking lesson at the end of your foraging tour, so you can rustle up a tasty treat.

TEAM UP

Enjoyment is the main driver that keeps kids interested in sport, says Sport England, and being part of a team can up that motivation. One study showed that group participation brings a 12.6% improvement in mental wellbeing, and a 24.8% improvement in fitness. Psychologist Steve Biddulph, author of Raising Girls In The 21st Century (Harpernonfiction), explains, ‘The more different sports pre-adolescent girls take part in, the better, as this helps muscle, bone and posture development.’ Team sports help develop social skills, too, and a shared interest can help families bond.

TRAIN TOGETHER

Lead by example and take the kids with you to the gym. Instead of the usual creche, health club and gym, Third Space (thirdspace. london) is about to launch children’s training club, Little Space, at its Islington location in London. While you’re working up a sweat, the kids can take part in classes or tackle the climbing wall. And if you need prescription swimming goggles or prescription mouthguards, family health insurance could be useful. A Simplyhealth plan helps cover the cost, with up to four children covered (simplyhealth.co.uk).

JUST PLAY!

If you have very young children, foraging in the undergrowth or scrambling up a climbing wall might not be ideal. Thankfully, according to Steve Biddulph, there’s no need to do either because ‘under the age of five, the very best sport is to simply play’. He advises that, in general, informal natural play opportunities are best for this age group. Having fun outdoors or in playgroups, rather than in regimented classes, allows very young children to engage in a fun, unpressurised environment – and stay active by default. Simple!