Children aged five to 18 should be doing an average of at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day, according to the National Health Service (NHS).
To help parents and carers keep their kids active over the school holidays, a fitness, wellness, and nutrition expert has shared some guidance.
Penny Weston, who runs the award-winning health spa Moddershall Oaks and leading wellness centre, MADE, has issued three top tips.
The expert shared: “Any exercise has a really positive impact on your mental health but this is never more true than exercise in the great outdoors.
“Sunshine naturally boosts the production of the feel-good hormones and the fresh air will help your children sleep better.”
How do I keep my kids active over the school holidays?
Cycling
Cycling is a great option for those looking for a way to get their child moving outdoors, according to Penny Weston.
“Cycling comes with all sorts of benefits such as stress relief (and) building muscles as it strengthens the whole body and improves cardiovascular fitness,” Penny advised.
“I also think it is important to teach your children about road safety from a young age, and cycling is a great way for them to learn more about this.”
Walking
Meanwhile, a ‘simple but effective’ method of getting your kids to exercise is walking.
Penny notes that it doesn’t require any kind of equipment and can easily be turned into an exciting adventure.
She added: “Bonus points if you have a dog to walk with!
“Walking is great for improving muscle endurance, increasing energy levels and improving cardiovascular fitness.
“When we are walking our breathing rate increases, in turn allowing the oxygen to move faster through our bloodstream, which is why our energy levels are improved.”
Make it a social activity
Socialisation is also a key part of children’s development and a good way to make physical activity more fun, the fitness expert continued.
“Sports clubs are a good way of developing your child’s leadership skills, teaching them new ways to exercise, and allowing them to interact with different people in a safe environment,” Penny commented.
She said. “Dance classes, football teams and netball clubs are all brilliant to get your children involved in.”
