Mumsnet users share with Sainsbury's what would get their children up and active

[EllieMumsnet]

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We all know it’s hard to get our children to keep active, especially during the holidays when sitting inside watching TV and playing computer games seem like the more appealing options. Sainsbury’s wants to get to the bottom of this and understand what barriers parents face during the summer holidays in getting your DCs active and in an ideal world what would it take to help you to get them up and about?

Sainsbury’s says: “We want to understand what challenges you and your family face when keeping active in the holidays. We know there are plenty of reasons, but we’re particularly keen to identify the types of support that would help your kids to get active. Do you want to send your children to a local sports camp, but there isn’t one nearby? Or would you like to see more frequent family park runs happening in your local community? Whatever would help your kids to get up on their feet this summer, we want to know!”

Let us know the barriers you face and any suggestions you have to get your children active on the thread below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £300 Sainsbury’s voucher.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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My main challenge is my sons anxiety which was very debilitating last summer to the point where he was unable to leave the house for days on end. He's on medication now though so we are looking forward to a good summer this year. We live in Cornwall so if the weather is good we will be at the beach. The kids spend hours in the sea and if we go to our local beach all their friends are usually down there too so it's lovely for them. It's cheap too if you take your own food.

biggest barrier is bad weather

The barrier for us is money. My 6 year old son is so active. He would rather be outside than inside on his computer. I would love to give him swimming lessons and football lessons but I cannot afford it. I always look out for free activities in the local area but there aren't many.

Inviting lots of friends round and spending more time outside helps mine to be more active

My daughter used to do a couple of week long sports camps (concentrating on specific sports) during the summer, which kept her active and also meeting new people. The cost of these prohibited me from sending her for more weeks, so it would have been helpful had cheaper alternatives been available.
Weather would also prevent some planned activities. Not always, but it isn't really much fun to spend four or five days a week out in the rain.

at the moment it would be a new trampoline

I think the biggest challenge is for kids aged between roughly 10 and 15. There is so very little for them to do really. Parks are targeted at the younger kids and even if the older ones want to play in the park they invariably receive a death stare from parents who think all teenagers should be hidden away somewhere.

We have a skateboard area locally but it's not somewhere you'd want your younger kids (10 - 13) going because it's a long walk alongside a road with a 50mph speed limit and it's quite isolated. Totally safe but if anything happened you'd be hard pushed to get there very quickly.

My DD2's biggest passion is swimming so we go to the beach a lot in the summer, snorkelling, body boarding and swimming in the sea. She has autism and finds things with lots of other people quite difficult to manage so we tend to find one of the quieter beaches and head out early so by the time it gets really busy we are ready to head back.

Also, somewhere for kids to cycle safely would be great. For all ages. There is little provision and local parks tend to have lots of people with dogs, toddlers etc which isn't idea for cycling.

go abroad to seek adventure

I live in a small village where it isn't safe to walk on the pavement next to the busy road. There is a small playpark at the end of my street which has baby swings and an elephant to sit on but the rest of the equipment (monkey bars etc) are even too big for an adult nevermind a child!

My challenge is my 3 children like to do different activities. One only likes football, another prefers dance and gymnastics and my youngest has autism and struggles in crowded places.
We do go to the local lakes a lot, they all do den building, run around and climb up then roll down hills. The challenge we face with that though is the weather. We layer up, have waterproofs but you can only keep warm for so long when its raining.
For the summer holidays I think it would be great if there were local free taster sessions for activities and sports, getting kids involved in trying something new. Perhaps Sainsburys could be part of this and the incentive could be that once a child has tried so many activities and had a chart stamp, there could be a discount on shopping/triple nectar points/offers on tu sports clothing etc.

Summer days out to the park and zoos gets them walking and fresh air and quality time together x

Taking them out to places - park, walks through the woods etc

My son plays outside so much more when with other children, so organizing plenty of get togethers with his friends is important during the school holidays, when He's on his own he tends to just play on video games, they love riding their bikes to the local park and taking a scooter to the skate-park, or just playing outside on the trampoline

They love bike rides

PIcnics at the park, splash parks and swimming pools, trips to the seaside, outings to national trust or similar places, farms and zoo. Anything outside, can't wait for it to get warmer and the days longer :)

Barriers include managing and entertaining the three of them especially as my son has special needs and children can be cruel to him.

book them some swimming lessons

If i told them i was making a fairy liquid water slide in the garden!

When i was younger, the local community centre had a playsheme where we went every day, playing football and other sports outdoors if nice, indoors if not. Struggle to find stuff like that these days.

US camp culture is great, would love to see that develop in the UK.

I have to work which makes it hard to get her out as I can't guarantee the childminder will take her to play out. I've arranged time off though and I'd love it if the local council here put on sports activities like they did back in hull. My parents are also visiting to look after her a couple of weeks which will definitely get her out and about to the beeches, parks, museums etc

Having a swimming pool nearby

Having a nice park with slides that she can climb up by herself

Have flat pavements so she can actually scoot

Mine are doing tennis lessons over the Summer Holidays. I'm picturing lots of sun and me on a picnic rug watching!!!

Having things booked in advance so they know it's coming and that we've committed to it - swimming lessons, booking train tickets for a day out and packing up a bag in advance.

The challenge of new born twins has been restricting us. Thank you to our fabulous friends who have been having our 3 yo to play (and gran too)

My problem is there is dog poo everywhere, even walking on pavements, parks where no dogs are allowed and in playgrounds it still appears. I dont hate dogs, but trying to get a nice area to run around, kick balls or just play on swings with out coming home to poo shoes and pram would be great!