So how much activity?

Experts recommend that all children and young people do a minimum of one hour of moderate physical activity most days of the week. This may sound a lot but it doesn't have to be done all in the one go. It can be spread over the whole day in manageable 10, 15, or 20 minute slots.

Activity helps kids to:

• Be happy
• Sleep well at night
• Listen and learn at school
• Control their weight
• Grow up healthy and strong
• Meet new friends
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Manage their behaviour
• Express themselves

Try these fun active challenges together!

• How long can you balance on one leg without letting the other touch the ground?
• How many times can you throw and catch a ball between you without dropping it?
• How many different ways can you find to travel or move along the floor? e.g. rolling, hopping, twirling
• How many skips can you do in a minute?

Click here for fun packed activities,
packed into an hour

Some content of this page is reproduced from the booklet Get Kids on the Go courtesy of the British Heart Foundation 2010.