Active at Home #StayInWorkOut
With the nation back in lockdown at the start of 2021, many children and young people will be spending a lot more time at home than under normal circumstances and there remains huge challenges for parents, families, communities and schools to keep kids active.
Recent Active Lives data released by Sport England for the 2019-20 academic year saw just 41.9% of London’s children (years 1-11) hit the recommended average of 60 minutes or more of activity every day, down 4.2% compared to the 2018-19 academic year, and below the national average of 44.9%.
Physical activity must be a vital part of every child’s day and the sector has been working hard since March to make activity at home more widely available and as accessible as possible for all children and young people.
Below, we’ve collated a small selection of providers* who have an offer specifically for those children and young people below the age of 25.
For help explaining covid-19 to young people, this child-friendly guide may be useful. Additional safeguarding advice is available here.
London Sport – Active At Home table
London Sport and their tech partners – those that they have worked with through Sport Tech Hub and other tech innovators – have collated a range of free or low-cost physical activity offers.
It’s an open, inclusive list of tech tools from London and around the world that people and organisations can use to stay active at home. Accessible on the Active At Home table.
Health and Wellbeing:
Don’t let the current challenging situation prevent children from getting the activity they need. The NHS Change4Life website has a host of videos, activities & resources to help get kids moving indoors! Plus, healthy eating tips and resources available. Have a look.
Sport England have pulled together some useful ideas and tips on how everyone can remain active at home, if you’re well enough. If you’ve found a great way to keep active online, use the hashtag #StayInWorkOut on social media to share your idea. Take a look and join the movement.
To help better support teachers and parents, YST have collated a list of free to use resources which can help support home activity. This includes; Ready Set Ride resources, Play Format videos, Personal Challenge videos as well as Inclusion 2020 activities. View here.
Low-intensity activities:
The BBC has launched hundreds of interactive content which follow the national curriculum to support parents, carers and teachers in helping young people to remain active and healthy. Visit the page here.
The Daily Mile have launched the The #DailyMileAtHome campaign. They have adapted their guidance so children along with their parents can continue to enjoy the same benefits at home. Along with this they have created weekly family fun challenges and resources. Check it out
GoNoodle engages 14 million kids every month with movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts. Available for free for everyone to encourage fun home activity. Check it out.
Create development are offering all schools free sample games and activities to support their children and family with home learning. The real PE at home will help children to develop a broad range of fundamental movement skills. Learn more.
High-energy activities:
Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, has relaunched his live PE exercise classes. These sessions are held live on his The Body Coach TV YouTube channel every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9am to help children and parents keep active during the third national lockdown. Visit the Youtube channel.
Imoves wants to help keep primary aged children as active as possible by offering free access to their imovement platform. Some of their best resources including videos, music and lesson plans are now available free. Helping pupils stay active & healthy even if they can’t go to school. Sign up.
This Girl Can has teamed up with Disney to create fun dance routines to help mums get their kids active while listening to the songs they love. You can learn their moves or put your own spin on their routines. At the end of the day, it’s about breaking a sweat while having a bit of fun. Visit the website.
*London Sport does not endorse or recommend any individual organisation above any others but has provided the following guidance to help families and schools to make an informed decision of which activities may be suitable.
London Sport has created a page which will be updated with any new statements or information from London Sport on the covid-19 outbreak and any impacts on our work.
