Ok so I've agreed to go on breakfast TV tomorrow to talk about this - can you plse tell me what you think?

[JustineMumsnet]

Fewer than 3% of 11-year-olds get enough exercise, according to new study about to be published (they are sposed to get an hour a day).
Would be very grateful if you could post why you think that is, and what could help?

Er maisemor, I suspect that if I tried that in my corporate job I wouldn't be in it for very long.

we should not have to arrange structured activity for our 11 year olds
it should be a way of life by then
if they are not getting enough excercise - its up to THEM to sort it

So much housing nowadays is in the form of gardenless flats or houses.

Tenancy laws lend themselves to a more transient population, and that translates into no strong sense of community and reluctance to let your children 'play out'.

More cars on the road, more wanky drivers and on the whole, a more 'me me me' based society means many don't have much concern for others, including children playing in the road or lost children or children on bikes.

High housing costs mean more two parent couples have to work full time.

No time to let the kids 'play out', particularly in a place where it gets dark before or soon after the standard workday ends for many months out of the year.

and what's a lunch hour? (in my job atm it's non existent)

Yes, what are you going to wear?

The fundamental cause though????

Margaret Thatcher

the amount of children I see being driven relatively short distances to school must make a difference - some of them are unused to walking any distances IMO

What time are you due to be on?

Spot on, Voluptua.

Curious - why is it an hour a day for children but only half an hour a day for adults?

Does this 1 hour of exercise require a raised heart beat? or as other posters have suggested, does the gentle amble to school on foot count as part of the quota?

Frankly if they are not getting the exercise at school, with best will in the world it is difficult to 'fit it in' after school - there is homework, play / down time (and I think this can legitimately include sedentary activities like tv), dinner to eat etc and just 3 - 4 hours tops to squeeze this in prior to bed time

i am sure some of us are criticsed for leting our children have thr freedom to walk everywhere

Having a fair size garden where bigger kids can run and cycle, play football - some gardens are much too small for this and the kids end up just standing around or in front of a screen.

too many screens are HUGE contributory factor - esp with BOYS

too many screens are HUGE contributory factor - esp with BOYS

We all make different choices, and we all have different priorities. Nothing wrong with that.

I guess I just meant to say it's not an option in plenty of jobs. in mine it's not nec the hours, it;s my results (which often necessiate the hours!)

People don't walk enough any more and people don't let their kids out to play as much.

NotanOtter has a good point - you've already failed by 11 if they haven't got into healthy habits. Much better to get them into exercise really early.

I was born with a hole in my heart and the docs recommended lots of exercise (the heart is a muscle ergo exercise and it will grow and fix itself - it didn't btw but that's another story). Anyway, I was never allowed a pushchair while my (one year older) brother was.

I've always been fairly fit from that point whereas my brother is sedentary and dare I say it, not as svelte as me.

I would happily while away the hours swinging on the climbing frame, while he sat on his bum building Airfix kits.

By seven I think you have either got the joy of fitness or you haven't.

at the age of 11 i was off with my friends on our bikes. we used to cycle for miles. definatly over an hour a day.

my eldest is only 7 atm, but still gets over an hour a day, is always running about, and then goes on the trampoline, scooter, skates, bike after school. but if she is having a lazy day she would just veg in front of the tv given half a chance.

the parents are too busy throwing money at the children instead of time. We just spent a weekend with my nephews 9 and 11. 3 hours of it was spent walking to the perfect site, setting up targets (rubbish that then ended up in the bin) and launching as many stones as they could get their hands on for as long as they wanted too. Both boys said they never do stuff like this with mum and dad. Oh I gave the £40 that was left to spend on Macd's/sweets/treats back to my brother, who was gob smacked and asked what we had been doing?

right so now we have to amke sure our dc's have

5 a day veg and fruit

enough omega3's to ensure they are clever

no more than 1hr tv

2hrs homework

family meal at the table

quality time with each parent

12 hrs sleep

music practice

jeeez I'm exhausted just thinking about it,the pressures put on parents is ludicrous.

ggirl - well said!

forgot the one hrs exercise ater all that!

lol, ggirl - fecking spot on!

(and no aspartame)