Children focus of new physical activity campaign

The Public Health Agency (PHA) has launched a physical activity campaign to encourage our children to be more active. Research shows 82% of parents believe their child is getting the recommended daily amount or more, of physical activity, but the reality is that less than a quarter (24%) of 9 -11 years olds take part in the recommended 60 minutes physical activity, 7 days a week. ¹יּ²
Speaking during the launch at Brooklands Primary School, Dundonald, Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive of the PHA, said: “Physical activity is really important for children if they are to grow into healthy adults. Children’s physical activity needs are not the same as adults – they have a natural desire to be active and this should be encouraged both at home and at school. Children and young people who are physically active have higher levels of cardio respiratory fitness and stronger muscles. They also typically have lower body fat, their bones are stronger and they are less likely to be anxious or depressed.

“Children don’t usually develop chronic diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or osteoporosis. However, risk factors for these diseases can begin to develop early in life. Regular physical activity makes it less likely that these risk factors will develop and more likely that children will remain healthy as adults.

“We hope the campaign will urge parents to take a closer look at the amount of activity their children are doing each day. We know the majority of children are not getting the 60 minutes activity they need each day and parents often tend to overestimate how active their children are. The 60 minutes moderate to vigorous activity needed daily does not have to be done all at once but can be broken up throughout the day into bursts of at least 10 minutes which add up to that all important 60.”

Dr Rooney continued: “Parents, carers and other family members have a crucial role to play in encouraging children to be physically active and develop their movement and coordination skills. Research shows that parents can influence their children’s attitudes to activity so there is a real opportunity for them to be positive role models and set a good example to their children by being active themselves. If children become involved in physical activity and sport at a young age, it increases the likelihood of them staying physically active in adulthood.” ³

Parents and carers are being encouraged to go to the website www.getalifegetactive.com to plan activities as a family, involving children in the decision about where to go and what activity to do. The website is packed with information on the benefits of being active for both children and adults. Encouraging children to play safely outside, limiting television and computer time to less than two hours a day, and when buying toys that encourage physical activity rather than computer games or DVDs, are just a few ways to help children be active.
Stanton Sloan, Chief Executive Officer for South Eastern Education and Library Board, said: “Within education, one of our main aims is to empower young people so that they may make informed and responsible choices throughout their lives. The development of basic fundamental skills through regular and frequent participation in Physical Education is of paramount importance in helping children understand the benefits and relationships between physical activity and good health.

“The development of the Public Health Agency logbook, It All Adds Up, will help children record, monitor and self manage their participation in physical activity pursuits at school, home and in the community. The SEELB fully endorses the distribution of this resource to schools and would also like to thank and acknowledge the Public Health Agency for producing and promoting this logbook.”
200,000 physical activity log books will be distributed to primary schools, Healthy Living Centres, Sure Start Coordinators and Sport NI for children to log how much activity they have taken during the day. The campaign advertising will run from 27 September until 31 October.