Active Children and Young People
Being active is really good for your body, mind and health – and there are lots of easy ways you and your family can get moving.
There are many ways busy families and young people can build physical activity into their lives. Being physically active is easier than you think, especially if you make activity part of your daily routine.
Here you will find some handy activity ideas, top tips and guidance on how active we should all be and how we can build it into our every day life.
Focusing on these 3 things is a great way to start:
- Bitesize chunks - try to avoid long periods of inactivity
- Move more - remember, every movement matters! Walking, running, jumping, cycling, climbing, dancing...it's all good!
- Find what's fun - get involved in feel good activities. This can be activity in and out of school.
Children and young people should aim to be active for at least 60 minutes per day, every day of the week. Children and young people with disabilities should aim to be active for 20 minutes per day, every day of the week.
Physical Activity for Children and Young People (5-18 years old)
Physical Activity For Children and Young People
Physical Activity for Children and Young People with a Disability (5-18 years old)
Physical Activity For Disabled Children and Young People
Inspire
The INSPIRE strand aims to develop a positive and meaningful relationship with movement and physical activity for children of all abilities through play. The experience is more important than the activity, helping schools and families to achieve 60 active minutes for all children.
This year we have introduced INSPIRATIONS to INSPIRE young people to be more active and have fun reaching the recommended 60 minutes of activity per day.( 30 minutes in school and 30 minutes at home)
Young people may take part in each of our INSPIRATIONS at school and/or at home. We have provided some FREE resources that you can access below and the chance to be included in our PRIZE DRAW.
Win a £50 High Street voucher and a personal invitation to take part in our INSPIRE Celebration Carousel at the School Games Festival.
We would like to provide the opportunity for more young people to attend our County wide School Games Festival which is held at Loughborough University on the 27th June 2024 and take part in our INSPIRATIONS Celebration Carousel.
The carousel is designed by young people through Youth Voice to INSPIRE young people who perhaps are less active, to try something new, to enjoy participating in this prestigious event where the focus is on FUN not competition. It offers a great opportunity to experience and learn much more than being active, but also develop life skills such as confidence, social skills, team spirit in a supportive environment.
We hope you can support your child to access this amazing event.
How to Get Involved
There are 6 INSPIRATIONS that you can take part in during 2023-24. All Inspirations can be engaged with at school or at home. Simply download the FREE resources and enjoy our themed activities
At the end of each Term we will have a PRIZE DRAW see details below how to take part.
Use our free resources to engage your child. Either download our app (see 'Virtual Together App' below) or use the Resources below to get started. If you submit your scores or submit your usage on the app, you will be entered into our termly prize draw.
Where you have the opportunity to win:
- £50 High street Voucher
- And/or a personal invitation to take part at School Games Summer Festival
Resources
My Personal Best
This Inspiration is designed to teach children about determination, resilience, and self-improvement to help their confidence and teach them to see challenges as opportunities to grow. It has been proven that having a growth mind set can improve a child's progress & attainment. Scores can be recorded in a printable 'Personal Best Passport' or on the Virtual Together App* (for app guidance see the back of this document) . All challenges are for the individual to achieve their personal best, there is no leaderboard.
*You can also log the time you have spent learning and practising your new skills using the virtual together app and we will enter you into our PRIZE DRAW
*Thanks to the North West Leicestershire's School Sport Partnership for their contribution to the following challenges
Print ready passport
Personal best challenges
Move More in Spring
This Spring, we want to encourage young people to achieve 30 minutes of activity every day.
Spring is a great time of year to get out and enjoy the fresh air and explore local surroundings.
We encourage young people to choose what activity they do but if you need some more Inspiration why not check out the Daily Boost pages for some ideas.
Try out something new and fun to get children moving or choose their favourite activity.
Use our Move More in Spring trackers below and share what has inspired them to achieve the 30 minutes activity goal on the activity diary.
KS1 At Home
KS2 At Home
DanceMania
With evidence suggesting that music increases motivation, improves brain function and mental wellbeing, we encourage you to use music to get your young people moving this Summer.
Try to achieve 30 minutes of activity for 30 days during the Summer Term.
Dance helps young people to develop motor skills like balance, coordination, rhythm, and spatial awareness. It also boosts their confidence because they get the chance to do something they feel good about.
Because of these benefits, it makes dance one of the most vital educational activities in school.
Your school can introduce a music focus into school activities and/or encourage pupils to be active at home.
We have created FREE resources to help them achieve your goals.
It doesn't matter what activities you choose they do, they could learn a new dance style, create their own dance routine, learn a new skill, try some fun games or use music to bring a different feel.
Parents are able to download our Dancemania tracker for their children to colour in each time they achieve 30 minutes of activity.
Upload their results to the Virtual together app and we will enter them into the Summer Term Prize Draw.
Parent DanceMania Pack
DANCE INSPIRATION FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Why not try some different dance styles to achieve your 30 minutes of activity per day.
You could learn one style per week
Here are a selection of video clips to get you started.
Alternative Activities
You don't need to Dance to take part in Dancemania
Why not pick some great music and play a game?
We have provided some examples for you to try
You could also choose a new skill and use the music to make it Fun.
Games to Music
Prize Draw
Would you like to give your child the opportunity to take part in our annual School Games Festival INSPIRE celebration and be part of an All Star team .
This offers a fantastic experience where young people can enjoy trying some great activities, meet new friends, build confidence and learn some new skills.
Every child taking part has a chance to be invited and in addition we will also select one winner of our £50 High Street Voucher.
Simply download the Virtual together app and log their minutes of activity whilst taking part in one of our INSPIRATIONS!
Key Links
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The Virtual Together app has been developed to increase and promote physical activity opportunities both in and out of school.
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Schools have a large role to play in helping children to be active during the school day.
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Children who travel actively to school are happier, healthier, and more likely to achieve the recommended physical activity guidelines.
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What's around my way is here to help you find your local park, open space, walking and cycling routes and give you some ideas on what to do when you get there.
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If you prefer to be active from home, there are lots of fun ways for you to be active together as a family without even leaving the house.
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Looking for fun things to do with the family? We've got it covered.
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Your Local Physical Activity, Health & Wellbeing Team
Contact your local Team who can provide information, advice and opportunities for children and young people to be more active. Let's Get Moving!
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How much physical activity should children and young people be doing?
Find out how much physical activity they should be doing, as well as top tips and activity suggestions!
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Encouraging your child to be physically active may help in leading a healthy, active lifestyle as they get older. Give your child the best start in life!
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Looking for some family time? Why not get out and about and spend some quality time together whilst being active using our resources for families.
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The Holiday Activities and Food Programme is specifically targeted to offer provision to children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals across Leicestershire.
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Holiday Activities and Food - Leicester City
The Holiday Activities and Food Programme is specifically targeted to offer provision to children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals within Leicester City
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Holiday Activities and Food - Rutland
The Holiday Activities and Food Programme is specifically targeted to offer provision to children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals across Rutland
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Worried about your family's sugar intake? Concerned about eating well on a budget? Is it hard getting the kids to eat their 5 A Day?
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A great selection of family-friendly activity ideas and resources to begin moving more together in your living room, garden or local park.
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Free, safe and confidential mental health support for children & young people created by NHS Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland.
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Better Health- Healthier Families
A fantastic resource with information, activities and advice to help you and your family stay healthy and happy using simple activities and nutritional tips.
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Fun curriculum linked resources to get children moving and having fun while they learn. Super Movers provides a range of activities across Key Stage 1 and 2 subjects to help keep active.
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Ranger Hamza and the Ramblers go on interesting walks to find places for fun activities.
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Andy travels the world to amazing places and learns to move like the animals he meets on his wild adventure. Can you adventure with Andy and learn some animal moves of your own?
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A new inclusive active-learning dance classes for disabled children! These first-of-their kind virtual classes will help keep disabled children moving during lockdown and are inclusive to a wide range of needs.
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BBC Mood Boosters has tons of videos and resources aimed to get school kids moving, both at home and in the classroom.
Support for children & young people with special educational needs and disabilities (The Local Offer)
The Local Offer supports parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and young people with SEND themselves.
The Local Offer aims to provide clear, comprehensive and accessible information about the opportunities available for families with a child or children who have a disability or additional needs.
For more information click on the relevant links below.
- Leicestershire Local Offer
- Leicester City SEND Local Offer
- Rutland SEND Local Offer
- How to start being active Activity Alliance Guide
- Every Body Moves - Parasport's Activity Finder
Stay safe in sport and activity
Sport and exercise is fun – it gives you the opportunity to make new friends, try out new activities and amaze yourself with what you can do. As a young person involved in sport or physical activity, you have a right to be treated fairly and enjoy your activity.
If you take part in sport or activity you can expect your Teacher, Coach or Instructor to:
- Be organised and on time
- Treat you with respect
- Support and encourage you
- Never use bad language
Is something worrying you? Don't keep it to yourself
- tell an adult you trust as soon as possible, such as:
- a parent or someone else in your family
- another member of staff at the sports club
- a teacher or school counsellor
- your doctor or school nurse
- your club will have a child protection officer – find out who they are and tell them about your worries
- make sure you're not alone again with the person who has tried to harm you.
Childline
Is the free, 24-hour helpline for children and young people in the UK. You can call about any problem, at any time – day or night.
You might also want to take a look at Childline's Sport and exercise pages for info and advice on issues relating to sport.
- Telephone
- 0800 1111
- Website
- https://www.childline.org.uk/