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 little ones already love the outdoors, they love going for walks, exploring, going to the playground and feeding ducks and swans, so they don't need much encouraging.

walks in the park and in the woods

My nephew takes my great niece to the local park where they have lots of summertime activities & sports for the children during the school break.It's great fun for the parents & kids alike.

if the weathers nice the park is always a favourite activity

More family events would be brilliant as my 7 year old is very active but lacks the confidence to be left at a sports camp with people he doesn’t know. We are fortunate to have woods right by us so arrange lots of play dates for the summer - all the outside play has the added benefit that the house doesn’t get so trashed!

Having their friends to play, warm weather to go to the beach, water to swim in!

all of the children's holiday activities here are during the school day (9-3) but I work almost full time office hours so my DS is with a childminder for those hours. It would be great if some of the activities were available evenings/weekends.

Weather & games consoles are the biggest setbacks I think... Also the age difference in our children, from toddler to (moody) teenager, who like most of us did, thinks parents are embarrassing to do anything with or heavens forbid, be actually seen out with! :)

Setting outdoor chores - the chores need doing but easier then to get drawn into other outdoor stuff.

Taking them to pick fruit usually gets them up and going.
Also anything fun like swimming, tennis, badminton, picnics, rock climbing, treasure hunts, crafting days.

Sometimes a cheap new toy such as a ball and a competition to see who can keep throwing it back and forth the longest without dropping it. The promise of a picnic after a walk. Sometimes they get a temporary inspiration from watching the Winter Olympics etc

The sun makes all the difference! Plus my DD loves BBQ's, helping me with the gardening (she loves picking strawberries and other vegetables that we've grown) and getting the paddling pool out causes instant excitement!

I think the weather is the biggest barrier. If the weather is good it is so much easier to get the children outside. If the weather is bad they would much rather just stay at home indoors. Maybe local sports centres could run reasonably priced activities in the holidays too. A lot of the ones around here are quite expensive!

My barrier is my child! He loves being outside but getting him to leave the house/put his shoes on/ be parted from his toys is always a challenge..

we enjoy nature trails and country walks, usually come across something of interest. National Trust sites are great too.

Nice weather - my son will be out playing football every day if its fine and dry

We live by the beach in Blackpool and contrary to what lots of people think, the beach is lovely - blue flag now as well! We spend a lot of time there and last summer my son played beach rounders most days with his friends

Money, when I get really desperate to get them out into the fresh air, I bribe them. Sometimes a Mum has to do what a Mum has to do

A park DS can actually use. The boy loves outdoors but the parks are pretty naff, all the big old metal equipment, luckily we live by the sea so there's always walks along the beaches collecting stones/shells

Make the most of sunny days. Getting out with scooters always works well and out with friends to run around. Also make use of the paddling pool locally.

Good days out walking around attractions build up steps and activity but also cost a lot. So finding the right balance helps.

Weather is the biggest (and most non controllable) barrier - if it's raining, no one wants to do anything outside! Mine have outgrown softplay now so anything inside at the leisure centre tends to be quite costly - which is another barrier. Play dates with friends tends to be a good thing to get them moving - boys are always happy playing football in the garden. I also bought an old fashioned school sports day kit - beanbags, cones, sacks, elastics for 3 legged races etc - we've had hours of fun with this!
I'd love to see council/community activities organised at a reasonable cost...

To be really honest the biggest challenge is the weather - we are outdoor people - we all love the outdoors and have been like this since the day they were born so I guess it really is about starting as you mean to go on ......The weather can put the dampners on things though ha ha excuse the pun

A trip to the trampoline park or ropes course

We enjoy doing parkrun on a Saturday morning. We go as a whole family and my children enjoy playing outside and sometimes joining in. Great way to start a weekend.

No exercise = no screen time