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?

i think you're wrong

11 year + kids do not need or want MUMMY and DADY to take them on a family bike ride

in our day we went out with our mates and hung round the woods clambering up trees making dens - or rode around on our bikes till the sun went down

we did not need a sugary drink and snck every five minutes and we ate proper meals at meal times

we also probably slept more which again has proven to be an issue in obesity

oh yes no junk

our school is very lucky we have some wonderful new teachers who are encouraging allsorts of different sports and PE lessons.
They also put on different after school clubs to get kids interested.
my 10yo runs around for his whole lunch hour too.

But its a bit like parents reading in front of children, parents do need to make the effort to show children that being active is fun.

Now I am an overweight, unfit lady but I make sure I take the kids out as often as possible(5 days out of 7, sometimes more), football, dancing, golf, swimming, even if its just going to the local park with our cricket set. We also leave the car at home for little journeys and walk.

I'm with Humphrey Cushion on the ridiculous cost of swimming. To go as a family costs a fortune, so if you don't take them when they're young they don't learn to swim. I think parents of under 8's should be allowed in free, as we are required to accompany them but don't actually swim ourselves. By the time they're 8 they can go on their own but at least they know what a swimming pool is.
My pet nag is the state of most play parks, there is little enough to occupy little ones and nothing for older ones, there is a great wealth of playground equipment for older kids out there but most just provide 'hang out' shelters for them to smoke in, when I was 11 we used to use the bushes It rather assumes that when you get to a certain age you are expected to sit around rather than run around.

Well DD is far too young but I have noticed something recent ly that I put down to a cultural shift in the UK.

I live on the main road into a large housing estate - all privately owned. There are lots of families living in different sized houses. This Summer for the first time in 5 years there are Children playing in the street in the evening. They are Polish. I have never seen an "English" child out on a bike or running around the green areas.

All of a sudden there are about 12 Children of various ages having fun and laughing just as I remember doing as a Child.

I think this is great! The only thing is - where are the "local" kids? I suspect they are either watching tv or their parents are too scared to let them out of the door. We live near to where Holly and Jessica were abducted from and I can't help but think this has effected the thinking of the parents. I can't blame them but I do worry that DD will not be able to "play out" because none of her friends are allowed!

Is it the media putting the fear of God into parents? Or perhaps it is just that we are actually a lazy society?

Sorry for the ramble but this is something I have been musing over recently.

NAO

you said it, you only bloody said it!!!!

"in our day...."

Too much sedentary entertainment (tv, video games etc).

Children tend not to "play out" as often - not enough open space to, not considered 'safe' to allow children out without supervision any more.

Most parents have cars now - car to shops, car to school, car to wherever.....

I remember walking everywhere. Twas common two walk a mile and a half to the local high street to wander up and down visiting butcher, grocer etc, and then the mile and a half back - from age 3 to 4 upwards.

Not as much sport or PE at school. We'd have PE one day. Netball/football another. Country dancing (dear god that was bizarre), rounders another day, or gym if it was raining. (Drops even more at secondary but that's not the issue here....).

Have to say, the school my DD has started at (today, as it happens), has a programme in place whereby they have at least 10 mins a day of some 'activity'....will see if i can find info on it........

I think a lot of children in this age group do get quite a bit of exercise if they are into football-they seem to play it at every break and lunchtime at DS5s school! They also encourage things like skipping at his achool (a company which promotes skipping visited the school last year-can't remember the name of the group concerned) This brought about a skipping craze with both the girls and the boys. Also last year there was a "walk to school" intiative with certificates and stickers for those who did it. Additionally instead of having a sports day, they had a "health week" when the children took part in all kinds of activities and also had talks from different professionals about keeping healthy.

having said all this - my boys in particular looked ill on the beach
anyone see two very tall and very very very lanky boys at Daymer bay this August!

DS1 made me cringe!! He eats like a horse but it just does not cling to him! He is also the worlds least sport boy - but does a lot of walking about and head never rests!

ACtually - im not so sure about 'junk' as such.

As a kid for a few years my parents didnt have a pot to piss in. We would have fried egg and chips or sausage and mash for weeks on end sometimes.

I was VERY healthy due to enormous amounts of playing out, walking, and having an interest in sport.

The attitude of adults is a big problem . Any communal bit of grass has 'No Ball Games' on it. In our village a piece of land was given to the Parish council for a play area and the local residents kicked up such a stink - it went ahead but the residents immediately adjacent have said that they refuse to watch out for children who may get hurt so no-one is happy sending their dcs there unaccompanied.

Also 11 yr olds are so self conscious. Instead of sport activities such as yoga and aerobics would be a much better use of the little time allowed for PE.

Dd1 is 5 and her school only allow them to use the climbing frames in the playground if they change into their plimsolls - in effect they get on there once a week in fine weather. Fear ove rhealth & safety and getting sued also play apart.

vvvvqv - I am 40 in 3 weeks!

LOL vvvq - we did country dancing too

I agree with NotAnOtter re letting the chidlren have the freedom to walk/play. Kills two birds with one stone: teaches them self-suffiency and enhances fitness.

I also agree with Hatwoman - exercise should be fun, something that just happens. At this age, dire warnings about heart attacks and obesity are not going to wrk. After all, an 11 year old will live forever!

Ds is only 7, but he walks to school (15 minutes) (has just started doing so on his own), walks to out of school club (10 minutes), walks home (5 minutes) and then plays fotball and runs around in our (fortunately large) garden. We also let him cycle up ad down the pavement unsupervised, if he fancies cycling. Make it fun fro the kids and and don't force them.

Justine - what channel and when?

VVVQV, my gawd I remember coutry dancing.........I used to get paired with the smelly boy that wiped snot on his trousers!

omg it's dawned on me, we used to do country dancing as well. Then would have Barn dances where we would show off our skills at some point. LOL

You don't need to take 11 year-olds swimming though. I dump, I mean, drop off, my 10 year old at the baths with her friends - they go in alone. Not so dear. Stay for hours.

Glasgow under 16s can go swimming for free in at Glasgow City Council Leisure Centres. (It may even be under 18s)

I don't mind my (extremely high)council tax going towards that sort of thing

"grab your partner and turn again, do ce do"

LOL

This is what DD's primary has healthy schools status

for wickedwaterwitch
At 11 my ds MAY walk to school. But not if we end up buying a house in a village, then he'll have to be driven

If you live more than 3 miles from the nearest suitable secondary school (the actual walk, not as the crow flies) I think you are entitled to school transport or a free bus pass (depends on the circumstances ie if there is a bus route)

For primary, its 2 miles, might be worth looking into if you do move

I think lack of play provision and play space has a lot to do with it. Kids are not allowed the freedom they used to have. Given half a chance, kids will "exercise" naturally but the needs of drivers dominate public space and children are a long way down the list of the decision makers. A few crappy swings in the park just isn't enough. Home zones are one answer.

But I am probably too late as you are on in a few minutes!!

i wonder who the 3% are - are they are cross secton of society?

(mine will be in that 3%)

Justine just suggested that even we are in front of computer screens all day! How very dare she!

LOL Maureen!