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Original poster

Who are all these children that exercise for 60 minutes a day?

190 replies

Notcontent · 04/02/2021 16:12

I was reading an article today that there has been a decline in the number of children and teens who exercise for the recommended 60 minutes per day - no surprise there! But what was surprising is that research from Sports England shows that normally over 50 per cent of children do get 60 min of exercise per day, and even now, during the pandemic, it’s still over 50 per cent.

I was quite surprised by that research. It made me think that lots of people must be overestimating how much exercise their children get. In normal times, yes, I guess lots of primary school kids run around in the playground and walk to school, but now?

My dd is 14 and among her friends there is only one that actively exercises. All the other ones might go for a short walk if that. Even my dd who is really sporty is not getting 60 min daily at the moment. She spends all day doing school work and then homework in her room. She does go for a run most days but that’s only 30 min and she is literally sitting around for the rest of the time.

OP posts:
TheMoth · 05/02/2021 19:35

Ds only goes out if there's a purpose. I get that. I hate being constricted to running in safe areas cos it's so bloody boring. He stands in the garden until he thinks enough time has gone by, then mooches back in. He's the most laid back kid in the world, so moving isn't really his thing.
However, urged on by this thread, I did tell him to move and to stop just standing there'like a fucking flowerpot'.

We're a sweary house. He was more offended by being told to move, than the adjective. And he didn't appreciate my simile half as much as I did.

Stroppyshite · 05/02/2021 19:58

@Skyr2 Thank you! I feel like I am failing at the moment. I'm not saying it was great before all this, but now there's no excerise happening. They pretend to do school work, then it gets dark and they actually do some work, then they go to bed. And repeat.

SignsofSpring · 05/02/2021 20:01

Mine aren't into sports, the most they do is go for jog or walk by themselves, up to an hour on a good day, but nothing in between apart from a bit of yoga.

Am amazed at all these super-sporty teens!

Lulu1919 · 05/02/2021 20:05

The school i work in the children get an hour a day of organised sport/PE a day
Independent prep school

Notenoughchocolateomg · 05/02/2021 20:16

My 8yo loves bouncing on the big trampoline in the garden. I take them out every other day. Youngest has additional needs and struggles with being outside so its a compromise. Both are pretty much non stop in the house. Always running and jumping. Indoor trampoline getting a lot if use. Youngest will stand bouncing for a full hour playing minecraft, to the point he's sweating! Wish I could get them put every day though tbh as its so good for them and they sleep much better for it.

helpmabobby · 05/02/2021 20:22

You’re only getting the sporty ones answering. My teenagers are doing very little. Weights but not much wise. The youngest is very sporty normally but the weather has been awful here which is demotivating. We did insist on them getting out for half an hour a day but even that’s gone by the wayside in the last couple of weeks with the weather.

Thomasina2021 · 05/02/2021 20:24

@Blakes77

Well, my teen DID but now there is no football club, and even before this lockdown they weren't allowed to play footie at break in school anymore (and PE lessons seemed to consist of writing Hmm) Previously my secondary kids would have had a 25 min walk to school each way, plus sports, plus playing out/riding bikes with friends. I still let them play out with friends a bit but the weather's not been great. I really think they should have made children's sports clubs exempt from lockdown this time round. I think the benefits outweigh the risk. Being active is a habit, and once you lose it it doesn't always come back (thinking about 30 years from now when those 15 year olds are 45, overweight, and have diabetes just in time for the next pandemic..
Totally agree - with an increasingly obese population it’s madness our kids are stuck indoors without their sports clubs

My son usually plays 6 hours of pathway rugby a week plus all the school sports - can barely get him out the house now

Helmetbymidnight · 05/02/2021 20:29

I really think they should have made children's sports clubs exempt from lockdown this time round. I think the benefits outweigh the risk. Being active is a habit, and once you lose it it doesn't always come back

im not sure about making them exempt but i agree it is a big worry- a lot of the dc exercising a lot on this thread are pre-teens- with teens it IS much harder and i too think once they (girls in particular) have dropped an activity for several months, its going to be a struggle to get them back...

Mama1980 · 05/02/2021 20:33

We all go for a walk every day for 90 minutes without fail. My teen also runs 5 miles every other day. We have a large garden so they play in that too, snow/mud/rain they don't seem to mind lol.

unlimiteddilutingjuice · 05/02/2021 20:34

If I chuck mine out into the back court they'll generally run about for at least an hour.

Vexed80 · 05/02/2021 20:39

I have one in primary school and one in high school and they take part in at least 2 hours of dance classes 6 days a week. Most of the kids who attend the dance school in normal times are also attending the online classes. That's across all age groups from primary to college age. I'm not surprised by the numbers at all. There are lots of kids out there taking part in online classes.

Ameliablue · 05/02/2021 21:18

Mine aren't always getting it now, although are doing some, but pre-Covid they probably averaged between 2 and 3 hours a day.

bellie710 · 05/02/2021 21:42

My DD 12 exercises about 2-3 hours 5 days a week, she is currently injured so not exercising for 6 weeks but hopefully back soon. My dd's 14 and 10 do at least an hour a day but nowhere near their sister.

Roughasabadgersbum · 05/02/2021 22:10

@DelurkingAJ

DH or I take my two for a walk almost without fail every day because they’re unbearable without it. We probably go out for about 90 minutes. They’re 4 and 8.
We are exactly the same ..my two also 4 and 8. Tbh unless it's raining in buckets they are out in the garden alot. But we are lucky enough to have a garden 🙂
edwinbear · 05/02/2021 22:27

Pre-Covid DS (11) did about 20hrs of sport a week. Currently, the only exercise he’s doing is his thumbs, on the PlayStation. He’s going to have such a shock when all his clubs open up again.

Jonas14 · 05/02/2021 22:50

I take my children (4 and under) for at least 30-40 minute walk/ scooter/ balance bike ride twice a day 😊

Emmelina · 05/02/2021 23:03

They’re not in this house, you can be sure of that Grin

whatkatydid2013 · 05/02/2021 23:15

Generally we have been going out for a walk for an hour or two but if the weather is truly grim shove on go noodle a couple of times for them to dance along to and do a bit of hula hooping or play a game like treasure hunt where they go up and downstairs lots.

Whodofthunk · 05/02/2021 23:26

[quote Stroppyshite]@Skyr2 Thank you! I feel like I am failing at the moment. I'm not saying it was great before all this, but now there's no excerise happening. They pretend to do school work, then it gets dark and they actually do some work, then they go to bed. And repeat.[/quote]
Same here 🙃

icelollycraving · 05/02/2021 23:30

Pre Covid, football 5 days a week. Now it’s a challenge to get him to come for a walk. We did just dance today but then he buggered off as bloody Houseparty was binging.

jacks11 · 05/02/2021 23:40

Mine do- partly choice, partly enforced. We have dogs and they need walking every day, so if they haven’t been out, DC come out with the dogs, even if only a short 45 minute walk. At weekends they definitely come at least once.

DD runs for fitness- been too icy last few weeks to go often but she will run if just a little bit of snow. She also has physio exercises to do 3 times a week. Ponies also need ridden and this is 5-6 times per week.

I don’t think it’s healthy not to do any physical activity most days and i would not encourage it.

Topsyandtimison37 · 05/02/2021 23:45

20/30 min Joe wicks and 30 min walk every day

AubergineDream · 06/02/2021 00:15

My kids get more than 60 mins a day. So do I. And I am unfit and fat right now!

JoyIsCounterfeit · 06/02/2021 01:33

Does roaming the streets In multi-household gangs on foot or on bikes, being mouthy, litter-dropping, vandalising, jumped-up berks til past 10pm count as exercise? There's plenty of these homeschool - dodging clusters, scoffing (crisps, & at passers by) on corners.
They look pretty chubby now. 🤔

SillyOldMummy · 06/02/2021 04:54

Both my kids have gone from being extremely active to extremely inactive due to lockdown. It is such a shame. My DD loves sports of all kinds - she used to do yoga class, gym, bouldering club, cross country, walk to and from school (40 mins, usually via park for 30 mins on the way home), weekly swim, cycling, tae kwondo. Now, she is just addicted to being indoors. She refuses to do online PE and most days we don't get out for a walk as the timing clashes vs online classes with her teacher and my toddler's nap schedule.

I've seen her fitness plummet. A little hour long walk round the park - that's not enough. It is a tragedy, what we have done to our poor children..