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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DS loves playing with people. When we are at home, he defaults to playing computers online with his classmates.

I overcome this by encouraging the lot of them outside! The mums of his class have a WhatsApp group - I use it from time to time to rally the kids. I send a message out inviting everyone to play, giving them a time and location, and usually at least half a dozen kids will show up too - enough for a footy match or nerf war or whatever.

I stuggle now my 3 are teenagers, so activities that would appeal to them would be great.

I have a 3 year old and a 9 week old. The great British weather keeps us in sometimes so I’ve started making a list with the 3 year old of things he’d like to do outdoors in different kinds of weather. For example on a windy day make and fly a kite, on a rainy day go and build a den in the woods and see if we can keep the rain out! Hopefully this will make us all more inclined to venture outdoors and get 3 year old excited whatever the weather! A local all weathers forest school type club would be great to help us try activities we might not have thought of or don’t have equipment for.

Another thing that can make things difficult is taking the 9 week old. Fortunately I’ve been able to get a brilliant soft wrap baby carrier and a waterproof jacket with a zip in insert and hood to go over the baby when they’re in the carrier online, but I’m sure lots of parents wouldn’t be able to afford these. If sainsburies produced an affordable range of ‘babywearing’ items I’m sure a lot more families could get out and about off the beaten track!

My local council has cut back on this sort of service for families in my area, however still runs a scaled down out of term service. So for us it is fun swims with floats and crazy music which we love, they love to pile up the foam wedges and make a pirate ship. We go to our local park where there are tennis courts, and a duck pond and plenty of track around the edge, so I strap the bikes to the bike rack and with a packed lunch, football and the compulsory change of clothes in the boot off we go. For rainy days it is museums, I am lucky enough to live near Eureka so we let off steam in there, and talking of steam there is always the National Railway Museum which is free. I would recommend browsing the interweb and finding events, museums, and parks which are neat.

We both run. Our DD is only 2.5 so it's a bit soon for her but we do things together like arun around the cricket pitch. We want her to grow up with a habit of regular excersise

my children love a park..if it has ducks then the littlests happy, climbing things then thats my middle one sorted and if we hit mcdonalds on the way home thats the eldest chuffed!

We find lots of ways to keep the kids active, but there are still a few barriers.
The weather is one big one, on weeks where the weathers good we go out on scooters and bikes a lot more.
Having other people around keeps my kids more active, they are more likely to play catch and other games if other kids are there.

Dry weather! Also if they had the chance to see their friends, but must if they go to active clubs as child care. Hopefully it will be warm enough to play at the beach.

We have a good routine with the kids where screen time is concerned , I think, only 1hr of ipad or x-box a day. On the weekends we are up and out, we have a dog and most days in the holidays we are off to a park or somewhere we can take her for a long walk. We invested in decent bikes and a carrier for the car last year and I have a map covered in pins of places to explore, ride and kayak ready for this year. Our main problem has been holidays, like all working parents it's difficult to juggle the kids long holidays. Last year we rook it in turn but didn't have any time together as a family so this year I'm negotiating moving to term time workin which should make life easier - it will be a strain financially but there is so much more to life than money.
We save money by going to free community events, parks etc.. and always pack a picnic!

the weather is a huge barrier but hopefully with spring on its way we can get out more

We love going for walks in the woods exploring

Finding somewhere child friendly that's local. Take them out to meet mates and family

My children are older now (pre-teen and teenagers) so getting them active is a bit trickier. The eldest trains at a club twice a week, even in the holidays and competes, so gets lots of exercise. The youngest is still young enough to be entertained by bike rides and trips to the park. The middle one is a bit harder to motivate. I find the best way to encourage them is to sort of make a trip of it - all off on a bike ride followed by a picnic, swimming trip to the pool with slides. It sort of has to feel like an 'event' more. However, our local leisure centre has teenage gym sessions which the elder two love going to, so that gets them out a couple of times a week also.
I would love chances to try new sports - water polo, synchronised swimming, boxing, fencing, cricket - anything really to get my daughters trying new things, but it often feels like you have to sign up to a whole course. Taster sessions would be great.

We're quite lucky as our DC love to be outside. My main restriction is that I don't drive, and that DC2 still needs the buggy, so heading too far on public transport can be awkward - or getting to places that have no nearby oublic transport. We try to do days out to different parks/woods that are further afield at the weekend when DH can drive, and take picnics so we can be out all day.

During the week we try to meet up with friends/cousins to make repeat trips to local parks more interesting. Bikes and scooters help too. And garden toys/games like boules, hoops, bubbles, balls etc. And the sprinkler and paddling pool in the summer.

We have a great local pool but it gets so packed in the holidays and a band system is in place. However in holidays we can relax bedtimes more so will try going earlier/later in day.

My daughter has disabilities. Some physical and some social-emotional. It's really hard to find activities that suit her. She can't access most playparks, and lots of summer activities are based on physical ability. We'd value more accessible facilities that all children can enjoy.

id love it if our local community centre offered activities for children

We are National Trust members so spend time outdoors but it would be nice to have some free/minimal cost sporting activities in our local parks. Also swimming is so expensive, vouchers for reduced entry would mean we could go swimming too.

The weather does make a big difference, so it is vital that they play out on those days the weather is good. We are lucky to live on a farm, so there is always something to do/look at outside which helps. Road safety has some impact - the roads are narrow, so have to be so careful walking/cycling alone.

We do lots of camping trips during the summer. Includes going swimming, walks, crazy golf and playgrounds

Good weather for a start!

Bike rides, walks

Enjoy your locality and find out more about where you live
We have a local festival in the summer and we try to take part in the rambles, bike rides etc that are organised as part of it

My eldest DS has ASD which means noise and a lot of people can upset him and make him withdrawn, however he loves music, and being outdoors. so we opt for parks, and if we go to the cinema at the Odeon when they offer Autism friendly showings (no trailers and different lighting and sound). More and more venues promote inclusivity, it;s worth a look on the internet to see whats out there, and if a venue does not have this option, become a trailblazer and make a difference for inclusivity.

a local tennis club came to my daughters school and she loved it so i signed her up, she still loves it 3 years later at 10 and i want to play with her to give is something we can do together .... especially as she enters the tweenage years! i've signed up for a free local class to learn the basics and i'm petrified - frightened i'm going to look stupid, frightened i'm not going to be able to do it BUT i must make myself - so some classes to get back into sport for adults where you are with like minded people and its ok to keep dropping the ball when serving would be a great help!

The main barriers for me are cost and the weather... When it's tipping down with rain the idea of a long walk or run is a lot less appealing, whereas indoor sports like swimming tend to cost quite a bit for the whole family. I'd love if there were more cheap, indoor activities for my family to do !

A decent play park or indoor play, and someone to play with. Or a walk in the woods.