According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 74% of children aged 5-12 do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity.
Increased “screen time” and busier lives are two key reasons cited for the continuing decrease in children’s activity. The good news is that small changes can combat this! You can reach the recommended 60mins a day of activity via small chunks throughout the day. Playing in the garden, riding to school, a trip to the park or walking to visit a friend all add up.
Children love to model the behaviour they see, which is why Ride to School day is such an important initiative. It gets children, and their parents, active together. Not only do active parents have more active children, it’s a great way to develop mutual interests and have some time to connect. Plus, parents healthier in the process!