11 year old becoming inactive

[mollyfolk]

My 11 year old is becoming very inactive lately. She doesn’t really do active play anymore - even at home she used to be jumping off the couch but now she spends her time drawing, reading or listening to music. She chats with her friends on lunch break. She does a sport which is 3 hours per week and walks to and from school which is half a mile away but that is pretty much it. I know this age group is advised to get 1 hour of moderate - vigorous exercise today and she’s not getting it.

What exercise is your tweens getting?

Any way to persuade her to do more without becoming resentful?

It sounds normal TBH

Thank you. I just worry that she isn’t getting enough exercise anymore.

Organised sport in our case…and being lucky enough to be able to afford the full kit (a cricket net plus bowling machine!) in the garden. If he was getting out less exercise I’d organise some of his sportier mates round and throw them out into the garden.

What are you worried about specifically? 11 year olds don't bounce around the house and off sofas like 4 year olds. She does PE at school presumably, 3 hrs of sports a week, walks a mile a day etc plus other walking about. Sounds reasonable to me.

It's winter too. My tween is much more active in the summer when it's nice after school.

I suppose I’m just worried that she isn’t getting enough exercise. The advice for this age is 1 hour a day. She isn’t sporty - she does a swimming club that is 3 hours a week. So I’m hoping this is ok, and wondering how to persuade her to do more,

This is true - she plays out on our road during the summer. She would often be on her bike or her roller blades. It feels like a long winter right now.

It really does. I wouldn't stress about it to be honest. When spring arrives we will all be a bit more active and outdoors. As long as she's healthy and happy.

She’s emotional and pale! That’s why I’m starting to get worried really. But yes you are right it is probably a winter thing.

My 11yo is also much more inactive since going to secondary school and he really needs exercising or his behaviour and attitude gets worse.

School days aren't too bad but weekends/half term are. I've encouraged him to go out on his bike on his own (which he will do sometimes) and to go out for a run with me - he thinks I'm v slow so he runs ahead and then back etc so gets a lot more exercise than me but it's good for both of us. He is reluctant to go out and do stuff, would rather be on screens, but when he does then he definitely benefits from it.

Does your DC like things like trampolining? That's great for indoor exercise and if you have a trampoline park near you then you could take her and a friend maybe.

Why don't you go on some walks or bike rides as a family? Maybe make it a weekly thing, like something you always do together on a Sunday?

PPs have some good suggestions if you're worried about her health and wellbeing. Mine likes to go to the trampoline park as an activity but she plays in a football league every Sunday so Saturday is usually going round town with friends for hours (which is a lot if walking to be fair). Family walks and biking good idea but weather dependent. Swimming, ice skating. Offer to take her with a friend. Look at clubs from school. What sports does she actually enjoy. Girls football has been great for my girl. The emotional aspect may be something else of course rather than whether she is exercising enough - only you can know that. Hormones, friendship issues, social media exposure and so on.