Helping your child to enjoy being active
Enjoying moving our bodies and being physically active is one of the best things we can do for our health and wellbeing.
Physical activity doesn’t have to be an organised sport (although of course it can be); a lot of the time it is about having fun and moving our body. Anything is better than nothing. And, once we start, doing a bit more is even better. Sometimes, if we’re not used to being more active we might notice feeling a bit different. All these things are completely normal:
- Breathing a bit harder; but still being able to have a conversation
- Feeling a bit warmer; but not sweating buckets
- Hearts beating a bit faster; but not right out of our chest
- Some extra colour in our cheeks.
Play is the way that children get the most activity. As well as simply being great fun, it is essential for all aspects of their development. Active play of all kinds helps improve co-ordination, physical confidence and creativity, as well as physical fitness.
Playing together as a family or with others improves communication and social confidence, as well as emotional and cognitive development.
Look for opportunities to fit a bit more activity into everyday life. Suggestions for fun things to do:
- Make obstacle courses (inside or outside) and time each other getting across
- Balloon tap / keepy-ups
- Get outside in the fresh air at your local park or anywhere else.
- Make up games while you are outside, e.g. treasure hunts, hide and seek, tig.
- Have a big dance party around the house!
- As a parent or carer role model physical activity purely for enjoyment.
- Make everyday journeys active by walking, wheeling, cycling, scooting or skipping…or however you like!
- Over time we can build up levels of physical activity. If you would like to see the government’s infographic on recommended physical activity levels, click these links for birth to 5 and 5 to 18.
Remember anything is better than nothing, and a little bit more is better still.
Going through transitions – like primary to secondary school – can be reasons that young people drop out of being active. It’s important to recognise that preferences and confidence change over time. Often, there are also new opportunities that come up.
Physical Activity Resources
There are lots of places to get inspiration and ideas to be active for example, Physical Activity at Home Activities – Youth Sport Trust and www.youthgroupgames.co.uk
Parent Club has a good range of play and activities for different age groups – Activities & Play | Parent Club NHS UK has some great ideas for Disney related shake up games – 10 Minute Shake Up games – Healthier Families – NHS
Baby & Toddler books are provided by your Health Visitor and Pre-school Books are handed out via ELCC providers, as part of the Bookbug pack; and the series of books is also available to borrow from your local library.
An easy-to-follow guide to a beneficial, suitable and safe baby exercise programme to be used daily with babies from birth to 1 year.
An easy-to-follow guide to a beneficial, suitable and safe toddler exercise programme for 1- to 3-year-olds.
An easy-to-follow guide to a beneficial, suitable and safe child exercise programme for 3- to 5-year-olds.
For more ideas of things to do locally, have a look at The Highland Directory of Support Services, an online resource for everyone in the Highlands to find and share information about services and organisations that may help with the health and wellbeing of individuals and families.
