A parent's guide to physical activity

Isn't reading and mathematics more important than exercise?

Physical fitness and confidence improves a child's ability to persevere and try new learning situations. A physically fit child can concentrate for longer periods of time and gets sick less often and therefore misses less schooling. Physical confidence increases spatial awareness and has been shown to improve children's ability to solve problems. This helps them when they come to read, write and do mathematics.

When is a good time to start a fitness programme?

You can begin to build physical activity into your children's day almost from they day they are born. With young babies you can bounce them on your knee, dance with them and place toys slightly out of reach during floor time to encourage them to move.

As they grow, provide them with a safe place to explore and allow them time to move around the room. Place safe and bright toys around the room so they have to move if they want to investigate everything.

How can I get them away from the television?

A recent study in America found that trading exercise for TV time turned TV addicts into active children. Children were still allowed to watch television, but needed to trade an hour of physical activity for an hour of sitting. Swap exercise with a treat like watching a video or allow an ice lolly after a big run. As their fitness increases, children's desire to sit passively should decrease.

Children are six times more likely to be fit if both parents exercise, and three times more likely if only one parent does. Modelling healthy behaviour helps them to move away from sedentary activities.

How can I help my child become more physically confident?

If your child is not physically confident, spend time building them up.

Play with them, and praise their efforts. Make the goals easier to reach, and the distances shorter to run. Use exercise as part of life, such as walking through a museum, or biking to the park. If your child has had asthma or other health problems choose activities that do not require running around in cold air.

Stretch their comfort zone a little further every time you go out, and their confidence will gradually improve.

How do I get my child ready for team sports?

Not every child is made for team sports. However, some children prefer to stay away from this type of activity because they are worried about socialising with others, or because of concerns about their own skill.

It can be a good idea to check whether either of these reasons underlies your child's reluctance to engage in team sports. If they do you can work on these with your child and help them develop some of the skills they need (such as catching a ball, or kicking it) and build their confidence.

What can we do inside during bad weather?

Design and make an obstacle course, or play some music and dance together.

You could also make up some bubble mix and blow bubbles for your child to reach up and pop. If you can get out of the house, go to the swimming pool or walk around a shopping centre for the morning. The key is not to refer to it as exercise - make it a fun activity you can do together instead. If it is a fun and appealing activity your child will enjoy doing it together with you.