How do you encourage movement and activity in your young children? Share your tips - £200 voucher to be won

[EllieSmumsnet]

We all know how important it is to keep kids active, but did you know that regular physical activity in early childhood is key to supporting their health, development, and confidence? Small bursts of movement throughout the day can help children build important skills, stay healthy, and even improve their focus and mood.

If you’re looking for inspiration, the Youth Sport Trust’s Healthy Movers resources are full of fun, practical ways to add more movement to your child’s daily routine – whether it’s through active play, short exercises, or creative activities that get them up and moving. We’d love to hear from you: How do you encourage your little ones to stay active?

• Post your tips in the thread below to be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky MNer will win a £200 VEX voucher for a store of their choice.

Here is what Youth Sport Trust has to say:

“Did you know fewer than one in five children (ages 0-5) in the UK are moving enough to stay healthy? A lack of movement in childhood can have lifelong implications on brain development and lead to serious health problems later in life, including obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other preventable health issues.

"At the Youth Sport Trust, we have launched a new film to raise awareness of the potential health impacts of a lack of movement in childhood. Starting healthy habits from an early age builds strong bodies, minds, and life skills. We’d love to hear about how you encourage your little ones to stay active or any challenges you face."

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

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Mine is only 5 months old but he’s been practicing to walk (holding my hands) since he was 3 months! I believe it’s important to never underestimate a child as they are capable of more than we give them credit for. So I’ve always scaffolded whatever he’s doing to allow that exploration and learning, but never put pressure on him to ‘achieve’ anything, just to give him learning opportunities.

Yoga videos on YouTube
Dancing to Alexa
Finding after school clubs he likes (football is a no go, gymnastics is a winner)
Forcing him along on the family dog walks

We go to the park where there is a maze which is fun for exploring, we have games in the garden and have painted a hopsccotch game on paving in the garden - this is a great game -taking turns, throwing a pebble and counting whilst hopping and jumping.

Making activity part of the weekly routine works for us. Parkrun on Sunday, swimming on Saturday, football Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. If it is booked and friends will be expecting them, it is more likely to happen.

Go with yoyo videos, bike riding on a dedicated bike track around our reservoir, swimming.

We taught DS to ride a balance bike just before he turned 2. He spent about a year and a half riding it every day, including eventually to and from nursery, and gained in confidence. When he was 3 and a half and he would pick his feet up off the ground and glide along, we decided he was ready for a pedal bike. No stabilisers because he already had the balance, it took him about 20 minutes to figure out the pedals and he was off. Now he rides it to and from preschool every day. It's a really good way to work exercise into their day, as well as teaching them road safety.

He also does a gymnastics class every Saturday morning just for fun with some of his friends, and swimming lessons (which he doesn't love, but are non negotiable for us).

We have to do two walks with the dog every day in any weather, at least half an hour each, much longer at weekends.

She loves races, so we do "first one to the next tree" etc.

We swim, she does football club once a week and then takes her football on walks as well.
Scooter or her bike to school and back.

She does keep fit videos from YouTube with me sometimes, we dance a lot.

I have an allotment so she's been used to being outside and gardening since she was tiny. And I don't have a car so we walk to the shops.

I like to encourage my children to stretch and do some simple exercises before school in the morning to help them wake up and focus for the day. We also walk or scoot to school and back every day no matter what the weather is like. At weekends we tend to visit country parks where they can stretch their legs and play or go on a bike ride locally.

Park. And trampoline in garden.

We watch CBeebies where there are songs with actions, get our coats and gloves on and get out in the fresh air at the park, and get the outdoor toys out in the garden.

I find using imaginative play can really transform some children's attitude to physical play.

Running after a ball just doesn't cut it for some. But flying (aka running around) around as a dragon who is looking for somewhere to build a home or for some tasty goats for lunch can turn 'running around' into an amazing adventure. As someone who enjoys fantasy novels I find it much easier to play for longer when doing this kind of imaginative play, and the child can lead on the story with the adult adding dramatic tension or drama.

Worth a go!

We walk to school (25 mins each way)

We are lucky enough to live by the sea, so dd gets on her bike every weekend for a ride along the seafront. Ds is nearly 2 and we always get him out of the pram and encourage him to walk when we are out & about, not that he needs much encouragement! He likes to go on the scooter up and down the hallway.

We put music on and regularly do silly dancing competitions in the house. It’s a great way to burn energy and get the body moving, but it’s really fun too.

My kids also see me doing floor exercises and like to join in from time to time.

Kids model your behaviour.

It's about focusing on what they enjoy. We signed the children up for ballet and swim lessons as well as taking them to soft play and the park a lot. The more energy they run off the better they sleep!

Take them for walks in different places
Taje them to the park
Take them swimming
Help them learn to ride a bike
Buy them a bike
Get them.involved in sport or exercise they like.... football/dancing/gymnastics

It takes up a lot of parents' time!

We've always walked to& from school even though we could have driven. This has instilled a habit into my kids - now at high school- that they walk or cycle to school.

They've always done sports clubs and if they decide they don't like something they move on to something else rather than just do nothing. They've made brilliant friends this way and stayed active- one now plays his favourite sport at a high level as well.

We watch a lot of sport as well! Also go for walks and bike rides as a family.

I guess it's about making activities part of your daily life so its normal and expected?!

Anything that’s fun like treasure hunts and dancing!

My son will groan if I suggest a walk - but if we add an element of competitiveness or fun - he’s in! It usually ends up not the relaxing walk I’d like to have done, more a messy session of sprinting & chasing - but it does tick the boxes of fresh air & exercise! Similarly I can’t get my son on board with a card game - but he’ll happily have me in goal for 2 hours while he takes shots!

We walk to school, it's around 15 - 20 minutes, it's great because it enables us to chat and clear our minds for the day. I will do the same at hometime if the weather is ok. We will go to the park and swimming after school too - a great way to unwind.

I "walk" my child at least twice a day - whether the park or the woods. I joke it's like having a dog. She is (nearly) 2 and has so much energy she doesn't sleep if she doesn't get exercise.

We have a second hand climbing frame in the garden which she adores as well. We often also walk to the shop 100m down the road too.

If the weather is grim, we try soft play, and she has swimming lessons weekly. If she's still bouncing off the walls at 6pm we have a "dance", putting videos on and dancing to the hokey cokey, heads shoulder, wheels on the bus etc.

Both DH and I are active people so she often comes on one of our bikes or I take her to the stables or whereever.

Basically we do whatever we can to get her to sleep! 🤣

Lots of doing things to music, e.g. dance or tidy up.

One of my main criteria for a nursery/school was that it was walking distance. I also avoid signing them up for any regular activities that are not within walking distance. Of course they don't always walk - sometimes they use scooters or bikes and the little one still goes in a buggy at times. Currently, after school my littlest is so tired and just begs for screen-time, but if I get a balloon out she'll play keepie uppies with me happily for ages. Good cheap fun.

They have balance bikes for the garden and when we go to the park - uses twice as much energy and gives them the base for bike riding. we go swimming and playgroup.

We walk wherever we can - I think it's really important that they don't rely on the car, and try to do as much sport as possible - being part of a team even at an early age is a great foundation for later life.

Taking a football to the park, taking scooters to the park, playing on the Nintendo Wii, and swimming.

We go for a walk most evenings after dinner for some air and movement after a big meal, it also helps with sleep.

We've always walked everywhere, and use public transport to get the steps in, instead of driving.

I've been encouraging ds to get off the bus a few stops earlier when coming home as a way to get some exercise and decompress after a long day.