Time for families to get moving and encourage children to be more active

Government campaign offers ideas to get more physical activity for young people.

Recent figures have reported that more than half of children aged seven to 11 in England are not meeting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.

For many families, this is more down to confidence rather than access to opportunities to be more active.

In a recent survey, 44% of children who do not enjoy sport said it was because they feel they are "not good at it."

To help children reach the NHS-recommended amount of daily physical activity, the government’s Let's Move! campaign is inviting families to take part in the New Moves Club and discover the fun of trying something new together.

A statement from Let’s Move! said: “Whether that's a walk in the park, learning to ride a bike, or a 10-minute home workout, we want to celebrate having a go rather than getting it right. When parents join in, even imperfectly, children feel more confident, engaged and motivated to keep moving.”

On average, it is recommended that children and young people should aim for at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day across the week.

This may sound like a lot, especially when family life is busy, but it does not need to happen all at once.

You can break it up throughout the day, starting with just 10 minutes at a time.

Let’s Move! said: “Being active is an important part of helping your child feel happier and healthier.

“You do not need lots of time, space or expensive equipment to do this. Starting with just 10 minutes can make a difference, and small amounts of movement all add up.

“Wherever you live in the country, there are lots of ways to try something new and get active together.”

Wherever you live in the country, there are lots of ways to try something new and get active together.

Explore more tips and activities on the NHS Let’s Move! information page