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?

Filthyminded, that is crap. Your poor DS. If it was my kid, I think I'd sign him up for karate. Then buy him a shirt that said "toucha my scooter, I breaka your face". Okay, maybe not. But I would teach him some form of self defense.

Did he know the theif?

no he didn't know him. But he is local. For a fat kids, he sure could run fast though....

Perhaps he started out steeling people's crisps.

The teenagers have taken over our opark, every time they vanadlise something the council takes it away- swings gone, roundabout gone- there'll be nothing left soon. And we are very wary due to the number ofmen who sit in the car park alone there, whether they are watching the kids we don't know,, but tehre's nowt else to see

And we're not in an inner city area or anything!

Mine do clubs- swimming (expensive, nothing for the SN child as you need to have 1-1 for the SN group and I have other children- ds1 though sn can cope with small class, ds3 can't); ds1 and eventuallyds 3 do SN rugby provided by a lovely local rugby club; there's also sports clubs at school- but ds1 was turned away yesterday as not allowed to wear school kit, I have to purchase himanother style first- exactlys ame, different colour. More bloody money!

Filthy

The council takes the playgroud equipment away from the little one when the thugs vandalise it? Oh, that's lovely.

I do think the government has a role in developing thing like playgrounds and community sots centers, etc. for children, esp. in the inner city. I'm not sure they need to be free, but affordable would be nice.

I pay about £80 per term for ballet (including uniform). Tennis is about the same. I suppose that's a lot, but it seems like nothing compared to the rest of my childcare bill.

A random comment - I haven't read the thread! My children's school (secondary) have an activity hour at the end of school each day, which is compulsory. For at least three of these sessions a week, they take part in sport.

Kids love it - it's their social and fun time, before they go home to tackle their homework.

But whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy justine?

Tests tests tests.

Targets.

Statistics.

Politics.

Point scoring.

There's no room now for pe or actual education.

Just how to pass the next set of tests.

I think kids need to start the school day with a pe session, like they used to. Every school day.

And at home, kids have every gadget going, but they aren't allowed out the house. So they sit and play on the computer, and watch tv.

Kids need to walk more, play more and be pressured less.

But pace of life is so fast, and kids get rushed through it too. Car is quicker, too much to do, no time...

haven't read all of this but...
you have to mention sales of playing fields to build houses
or even worse, sales of playing fields to build expensive leisure centres which people then have to pay to use
kids burn much more energy if they have a field to tear around in/kick a ball in/cycle around than if they have to rely on organised sporting activities

easy to see that country children are less fat than city children (in my neck of the woods anyway)

HIJACK ALERT

Minty, how the hell are you??!! Hope you are doing well these days.

END HIJACK

Can someone summarise what Justine said on tv?

not brilliant expat... but getting there (been ill and have no childcare - crappy combo!)
how are you and your daintily shod feet?!

Glad to read you're on the mend.

I'm currently pondering if perhaps some Uggs won't suit our new lives in the country and perhaps to pester my put-upon mother to bring me a pair of sand-coloured ones for Xmas. She'll be so pleased .

Your poor mother. You just like torturing her exquisite French sensibilities, don't you? Terrible daughter!

So have you moved? Is it wonderful? Are you making jams and jellies and blackberrying your little heart out?!

Well I was just about starting to let DS play out but have had a letter home from school informing me that two children were abducted from a playground just a few miles away. Fortunately they managed to open the car door a mile down the road and escape but that is the end of DS's playing out for the time being. No-one has been caught.

BTW I work 3 long days if you include the commute. I can manage the commute, I can manage sports activities, it is the supervising playing out and walking to places I struggle with.

26 September is our big day, Minty .

Uggs are so warm and comfy .

Wishing your healing vibes so that you can join us on some Christmas threads .

My dd HATES sport, as I did. Big push at their school recently to get non-sporty involved in exercise, all kids invited to go along & try different sports, particularly aimed at girls, and guess what? DD refused to go because she "hates sport"!!
She likes dance though...

My suggestion is that for girls, exercise should be DANCE-based, and they won't even know they're doing 'sport'.

my children get loads of exercise, they swim in the river, ride their bikes, roller blade, walk to school. Because we live in a a small town in south Germany, where all the children do this sort of thing.
The speed limit for cars around our house is 30 km/hr.

No way could the children have done this sort of thing in the UK - the river in our town was too dirty to swim in, we couldnt afford a house in the sort of area where I would have let them play outside, and walking to school was just too dangerous (traffic and weirdos).

Justine

I missed this thread last night but saw you on Breakfast this morning

I loved your top btw

it seems that when the boys are about 14 years they are otherwise occupied