Staying active is important for both adults and children alike, and never more so that when we’re spending the large majority of our day indoors and in each other pockets!
Last week a news story from the University of Bristol highlighted the importance of staying physical active during the coronavirus restrictions. The article, written by Dr Charlie Foster from the University’s Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, gives an overview of the current government guidelines for physical activity, whilst also outlining the benefits of physical activity as a wellbeing tool;
“Not only is physical activity good for our health and protects against a range of chronic conditions, it’s also good for our wellbeing which is vitally important at times like this.”
Dr Charlie Foster, Chair of the UK Chief Medical Officer’s Expert Committee
The work of experts at the Bristol University has contributed to national guidance on how we can best stay active during the Coronavirus pandemic. The article also importantly highlights how this activity can be really simple to achieve, by cooking, running in the garden, playing active games or dancing. Read the full article here.
With so much change and the sudden need to juggle working with caring responsibilities and home-educating any school-age children, it might seem that fitting in a bit of fitness and some planned physical education (P.E.) is too much to ask.
Before even considering the at-home resources available, remember that we all still permitted one opportunity for exercise outside of the home too. It’s important to take advantage of this, as often as you can – not only for the physical activity benefits, but also for benefits that some fresh air and a change of scenery can have on mental wellbeing too.
For the at-home side of things, is a plethora of PE resource appearing online. Admittedly some are better than others, but they are all designed to help you fit in some active breaks into your everyday, and within the limits of your own home. We have listed a number of these resources below, as examples of some of the better and more reliable resources on offer!
Ultimately, the key message to simply sit less, and move more is more important now than ever before. But, there is nothing to say we can’t all achieve this whilst also having fun as a family.
#StayActive
Family friendly resources:
- Youth Sport Trust – a range of resources and activity ideas to support regular fun physical activity at home and physical education at home.
- Access Sport adaptive activities – Inclusive actiivites for at home.
- Early Movers – helping under 5’s be active.
- Wheelpower adaptive yoga – British Wheelchair Sport charity, Wheelpower, has guided and adapted yoga sessions online.
- Circomedia Youth Circus – The Centre for Contemporary Circus and Physical Theatre are providing weekly virtual classes for circus-based activities.
- Disney dance-alongs – Led my the #ThisgirlCan initiative, Disney dance-along encourages Mum’s and Daughters (and the whole family) to get moving. You can learn their moves or put your own spin on their routines.
- Joe Wicks (a.k.a. The Body Coach) P.E with Joe and Kids Workouts to do at home – for as little as 5-minutes, get active with the family in your lounge!
- England Athletics ‘Funetics’ programme – aimed at 4-11 yr olds, sign up and teach them core physical skills and how to run, jump and throw.
- Active Leaders daily challenges – fill your days with games, investigations, creative ideas and physical challenges which an be done at home, in the garden or house.
- LTA Tennis at Home – learn the skills of ‘floor tennis’.
- RFL #Skill to Play – sharing their skills with the next generation – and keeping everyone connected to the sport.
- Classroom meditation – Led my Yoga guru, Adrienne, this video is guided yoga for all ages and abilities.
- Change4Life activities for kids – Easy ways for kids to keep active if you cannot get outdoors.
- Change4Life accessible activities – lots of ways to keep disabled children and young people active.