The UK Chief Medical Officer (CMO) recommends that children aged 5 to 18 should be highly active (with an elevated heart rate) for an average of at least 60 minutes a day, across the week in order to stay happy and healthy.
However, new research by YouGov commissioned by children’s charity the Youth Sport Trust reveals parents are more likely to believe that children only need to be active for 30 minutes a day, less than half of the recommended guidance.
National School Sports Week 2023 is live! 🙌
— Youth Sport Trust (@YouthSportTrust) April 19, 2023
Between 19-25 June, we’re asking families, schools, organisations to all #PledgeToPlay to ensure kids reach their daily 60 active minutes. Find out more about this year's campaign at https://t.co/UQKCee3pw8 | #NSSW2023 pic.twitter.com/FeIwAe3VNn
The Youth Sport Trust thinks that low awareness of the recommendation is contributing to low activity levels among children.
Less than half of all young people in the UK (47%) are active for 60 minutes each day, with almost a third (30%) averaging fewer than 30 active minutes. (Sport England Active Lives Children and Young People Survey 2021-22).
These findings are set against a backdrop of a wellbeing crisis among young people in the UK. Further research by Teacher Tapp commissioned by the Youth Sport Trust found 97% of teachers are ‘concerned’ about the mental health of young people in their school.
And whilst the same number of teachers (97%) agree sports and play can support mental health, only 35% of teachers are aware children should be active for 60 or more minutes a day, highlighting the need for more support and training for schools and teachers.
In a bid to drive up awareness of the Chief Medical Officers’ guidance, the charity is this week launching its annual National School Sports Week campaign, powered by Sports Direct, to get more children ‘playing for fun, playing for 60’ between 19 and 25 June.
National School Sports Week is aiming to boost children’s activity levels by encouraging people and organisations to make a #PledgeToPlay for 60 minutes every day during this week.
The campaign will work with families, schools and across society to ensure that people are better informed about the benefits of sport and play for their children.
Deadly 60 and wildlife presenter Steve Backshall has made a pledge to keep active with his family, watch the clip here.
Last year, schools taking part in National School Sports Week provided more than 650,000 young people with opportunities to be involved in PE, play and sports.
Here today we have the Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, Alison Oliver MBE, to tell us more about the importance of driving awareness, talk about the physical and mental benefits of the Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines and top tips to get kids up and out this June.
Alison Oliver MBE, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust says:
We know children are leading increasingly sedentary lives. Screen time is up, and time spent in nature is down – it’s no surprise that parents and teachers are increasingly concerned about children’s physical activity levels and the consequence of this in the classroom.
Children’s formative years can influence their wellbeing, development, education outcomes and physical activity levels well into adulthood. There is a compelling evidence base for more play and sport in children’s lives. Pockets of innovative practice which are unlocking new ways to inspire young people to get active are emerging, but a priority has to be raising public awareness of the CMO guidance should be a priority alongside action to help schools and families respond.
National School Sports Week is a great opportunity for us to engage with schools and families. We’re excited to share some brilliant ideas and guidance as well as uniting a movement of organisations to help amplify why this is important and what’s available at a local level. We are inviting the nation to #PledgeToPlay.
Today we issue a rallying call. Daily physical activity, play and the development of physical literacy through physical education and school sport should be an integral part of every childhood, and we are really excited to work with Sports Direct to make play and sport more accessible for more young people and in turn help them lead happier and healthier lives.
Schools, families and organisations can start to take action by supporting the Youth Sport Trust’s National School Sports Week campaign at https://www.youthsporttrust.org/join-us/nssw