Ideas - healthy activities for kids
You’re more likely to have fun and success if you arm yourself with new ideas. Kids don’t need to get their 60 active minutes all in one go - they can clock them up bit by bit across the day.
One of the best ways to start changing is by having an idea of what you’d like your family to get out of a new healthier lifestyle and write it down on a post-it note. With a long-term goal in mind, it will help remind you that even little changes everyday will help you achieve it. Here’s how it might look:
We’d like to . . .
- Spend more time together
- Veg out less
- Have fun
- Get involved with local activities
Kids like it when we tell them how it is; they respect us all the more. So keep them in the loop of what you’re going to be doing as a family and why it’s important - if you’ve got them on board, that’s an achievement already!
There’s no harm in having a go at new things; you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain, so it’s worth a shot isn’t it? It’s great fun if you all do it together and it really encourages kids if they see you having a go too.
Support each other
Ask your friends if their family is doing Change4Life, maybe you can do some activities together? Or get your other half and kids involved at every opportunity and you’ll find it much easier.
Any achievement is a great achievement
‘Hurray! They’ve eaten their peas!’ or ‘Brilliant, they’ve played ‘hot potato’ instead of watching TV after dinner’. It’s the little things that go a long way.
Play
It’s what kids do best. Running around, having fun with their friends, and burning off energy is a great way of getting some (or all) of their 60 active minutes each day.
Get walking
Walking is a fun and easy way for children to get their 60 active minutes a day while spending time with you and their friends! You can find more great ideas on walks in your local area at www.whi.org.uk where you can find a local healthy walk scheme - they’re fun, free and friendly!
Dance about
It doesn’t have to be at a dance class! You can dance to the radio, or in front of the TV - all you need is a great tune and you and your kids can have fun dancing anywhere.
Have a good splash about
Whether it’s lengths of the pool, or having a good splash about, kids love having fun in the water. You could get the kids to play tag or fishy-in-the-middle (like piggy-in-the-middle but in the water!)
Some local authorities have free swimming offers, so it's worth checking their websites for details.
Zoom around on a bike
Cycling is a great alternative to the car or bus, and can be much more convenient too - no waiting around, no traffic jams or parking problems, and no parking charges either. You don’t even need to have somewhere to get to, just getting the kids out for a bike ride is a great fun activity. Just make sure they’re careful and wear a helmet.
And it doesn’t end there
Activity doesn’t have to cost anything. It needn’t mean joining a gym or sports club (although that’s great if that’s what your children like). Going outside is free, fun and is the best gym. So remember - any kind of activity counts towards your children’s 60 active minutes.
