So when I was a kid, I’d play football outside from the minute school finished to 9 at night. I would play football in the playground before school, at break and at lunch time. I wouldn’t stop even when my back was tired and my feet hurt. Everyone played football, virtually non-stop, so we must have been fantastically fit for 12 year olds. Ok, the weight of the world has taken away most of my spare time, but I still manage to cycle each evening and sail every weekend.

Is there a link between being a healthy and active youngster and remaining healthy and active when you become an adult? I personally think not, as many of my friends who used to beat me at cross country running now can only beat me in an “eat the pie” contest. However, I still think that it is vital for the long term health and well-being of a child to excercise daily, and know that a kid who truly enjoys sports will continue to participate into adulthood.

Now then, with Playstations, Xboxs, Sky TV and Gameboys being at the top of most kids activities list, what can we do as parents to encourage outdoor activites? To start with, it has to be fun. Not fun for you, the parent, but fun for the kids. If they want to take up a sport, no matter how vague or obscure, we should strive to do what ever it takes to allow them to participate. So many times i’ve seen kids complaining about having to play Rugby because it’s too rough or cold, or Football because the acting is hard. If kids learn to hate sport when they are young and impressionable then they will never have the confidence or motivation to get down to the local sports centre when they are adults.

Rather than telling your kids what they should play, ask them what they want to do. If they say Paintballing, then take them. If they want to try out surfing, then book a holiday to Cornwall. Karate? Get them to the Dojo. If we can encourage our kids to play outside (in safety) then we have done our job.

Courtesy of Mikecraft photography