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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Summer holidays 'making children unfit'

25 replies

LovelyBath77 · 11/07/2017 20:15

Article in the Times today about children becoming less fit in the summer holidays. Can run less far apparently, after the than before. Stuck in front of screens all day, apparently. Ones in holiday clubs do better. Made be a bit cross, as doesn't have to be like that if they are home. AIBU?

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 11/07/2017 20:21

Why are you cross? It probably does make then lazy and less fit

Changednamejustincase · 11/07/2017 20:27

Mine do a lot more exercise over the holidays. We walk, cycle, scoot or swim every day all day. But mine are young. I bet some teenagers play a lot of PlayStation so that probably does make them less fit than during term time when they'd be doing sports and P.E. and walking to and from school.

Groupie123 · 11/07/2017 20:28

Really depends on parenting.

BewareOfDragons · 11/07/2017 20:30

Not mine!

Original poster

LovelyBath77 · 11/07/2017 20:31

It kind of made me cross as can't really afford clubs but won;t just put them in front of screens. i found it a bit patronising.

OP posts:

Florin · 11/07/2017 20:32

Depends on the parents, my 5 year old cycles 5k at least 3 times a week with me when On holiday while I go for a run and we both love it. He definitely won't be going back less fit!

vikingprincess81 · 11/07/2017 20:34

My kids are always more active in the holidays because we have all day to do activities with them (I absolutely realise we're in the minority as, due to our jobs, we can cover almost all of the school holidays without outside childcare) and they drive me fucking mental if they haven't had all their energy used up they need activities to burn off their energy. We also have a family membership to the local sports centre, so many activities are included - they could swim every day as part of the membership for example. I do empathise with parents who don't have this luxury though. To answer your question though, I'd have thought kids would be more active in general as they're not sitting at school for 6 hours a day but I'm mean and make them go out and play in all weathers

teacher54321 · 11/07/2017 20:34

We never stay in all day here-I get terrible cabin fever, never mind DS. We get out and about loads, national trust membership is a godsend and we have a country park round the corner so every day that DH is off in the holidays they go for a cycle ride. I do spend a fortune in the holidays though on petrol and going to lots of different places.

vikingprincess81 · 11/07/2017 20:36

This is be first year we've had that membership though, prior to that it's been walks, nature trails, cycling, going to the park, just playing out in the garden.

YellowLawn · 11/07/2017 20:36

mine don't they get turfed outside at first light with call for dinner at dusk

but some dc might be couped up at home, no oppotunity to run around outside.

user1486076969 · 11/07/2017 20:36

I work full time (i.e. not there to encourage/organise activities) so I would say my DS (14) does less exercise during the holidays, having said that he has started going to the gym on his own. At school he has sport 3 times per week plus matches on Saturday...plus lots of walking as it's a large campus.

AllTheWittyNamesAreGone · 11/07/2017 20:36

Mine stay in for the full 6 weeks with the remote in one hand and a greggs steak bake in the other.

Original poster

LovelyBath77 · 11/07/2017 20:36

I think I was also cross as it was saying that poorer children get it worse as sat in all day in front of screens. We are not wealthy but I try my best. if they play on computer it will never usually be all day and mostly get out, to the park or swimming.

OP posts:

vikingprincess81 · 11/07/2017 20:37

Today 20:36 ^AllTheWittyNamesAreGone

Mine stay in for the full 6 weeks with the remote in one hand and a greggs steak bake in the other.^

vikingprincess81 · 11/07/2017 20:38

Blah, italics fail

user1486076969 · 11/07/2017 20:38

I used to be a SAHM, then part time, now full time.........if you have the time in the holidays do please take advantage of it to get your DC out and about. I really miss the chance these days.

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 11/07/2017 20:38

It's along the same lines as the 'children forget how to read/add up/write' over the summer holidays isn't it. Obviously there are many families that enjoy spending time together and learn /exercise throughout by doing normal family things (DS1 loves to add up the shopping for example) Its just more crap 'poverty-porn' to sell newspapers to middle-age middle-class pearl-clutchers

RedSkyAtNight · 11/07/2017 20:40

If it's anything like last summer holiday my DC will spend the days running and cycling round with their friends- they get way more exercise than term time where they are stuck in a classroom for so many hours of the day.

BrieAndChilli · 11/07/2017 20:41

The article I read did make a point of sayin it was the less well off children that fared the worst - the middle class can afford the clubs/have to use the clubs while they work but the kids who come from poorer backgrounds or have parents on benefits don't have the same opportunities.
A lot of kids live in inner cities where they can't just go and run around outside, their parents don't have the cash for bus fares to the country side, if there is indeed a but that goes there as they don't have a car to drive, don't have the money for them to go swimming etc so they probably will spend most of it watching tv.
It's sad and I think most people in mumsnet will have no idea how the poorer end of society live, and that £5 to go swimming is just an unaffordable luxury for some.

we aren't well off enough to afford theme parks every week but we live on the doorstep of so much country side, woods, mountains, streams, coastline etc, we belong to national trust and have a swimming membership.

JoshLymanJr · 11/07/2017 20:42

Mine stay in for the full 6 weeks with the remote in one hand and a greggs steak bake in the other.

That's my idea of a holiday!

UniversalTruth · 11/07/2017 20:43

I don't pay for the Times so can't read the article, but surely it's useful to put this information out there. Was it actual research or anecdotal? I imagine that using holiday clubs is more to do with whether you need childcare than income per se. With this info highlighted, parents can make different choices. And public health type people can make better decisions about helping poorer families to get active to make a level playing field (no pun intended!).

Littlepond · 11/07/2017 20:45

My children are definitely more active in summer holidays. At school surely they are sitting down in lessons or assembly a lot of the time? Except PE and playtimes.

At home my kids get bored quick so we go out a lot. And we don't have much money so we do a lot of picnics and walking in the woods, or trips to the beach where they run and dig all day, or meeting friends in the park.

During term time i work full time so by the time I get the kids from after school club I'm knackered, we go home, they watch TV while I cook dinner, they do homework after dinner then bed. I'm lucky to have school holidays off so I am so much more up for doing stuff then.

School holidays always make me feel like the mum I want to be, busy and active and doing stuff. The other 39 weeks of the year I'm pretty useless lol

Breezybreeze · 11/07/2017 20:52

Love that allthewitty

Original poster

LovelyBath77 · 11/07/2017 20:58

You can read several Times articles online for free. I will try and find it for you.

OP posts:

Original poster

LovelyBath77 · 11/07/2017 21:00

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/poor-pupils-lose-fitness-in-holidays-p2rq8qsx3

It's also reported elsewhere as well, in case of difficulty viewing that one.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/10/summer-holidays-bad-child-health/

OP posts:

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