60 active minutes - everyday family activities

Active kids are happy kids - they like to be running around and having fun.

The trouble is, in this modern world they’ve got other things to do and plenty of reasons not to go outside to play or run around. Even at school they’re sitting for much of the day.

In fact, kids need to do at least 60 minutes of physical activity that gets their heart beating faster than usual. And they need to do it every day to burn off calories and prevent them storing up excess fat in the body which can lead to cancer, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It also keeps their bones healthy and encourages muscle strength and flexibility.

It’s important to try and do activities that really get their hearts pumping. This can be things like jumping, skipping, dancing and running. Not only does it make them feel good, but it helps to exercise their bones too and protect against brittle bone disease in later life.

Another fun way of getting 60 active minutes is going swimming - or simply having fun in the water. It uses every muscle group and is great for cardiovascular fitness. Some local authorities offer free swimming, so it's worth checking their websites for details. 

Family fitness tips - how other families are getting involved

Stephanie Bowman,
Kent

"I have made sure that I take my son for walks more and that he plays out in the garden more rather than inside. I take him for walks to the local woodland parks and a small park where we play ball."