Fundamental facts to consider when encouraging children to exercise...

With many minors shunning sport and activity in favour of leading a sedentary lifestyle, promoting the participation in physical activity is paramount for preventing the premature death, disease and delayed development that are often associated with inactivity.

In order to ensure that your youngster swaps the sofa for sport, here are a few fundamental facts to consider when encouraging children to exercise...

1. Minors are motivated by different factors - pin pointing what will allow you to adapt activity accordingly.

2. Swimming isn't a suitable form of exercise for everyone - particularly not children who are susceptible to feeling self-conscious about their shape and/or size.

3. Adapting activity to compliment a child's age and ability will leave them much more likely to enjoy (and continue to) exercise.

4. The musculoskeletal  discomfort associated with obesity is often aggravated by physical activity - this can put many obese minors off of exercise.

5. Exercise should be an enjoyable experience that promotes physical and psychological growth and development - think strengthened social skills when children participate in physical activity with their peers, stronger gross motor skills when they make large movements such as skipping/jumping and increased independence when little'uns learn to execute a new exercise without an adult's assistance.

6. Obese and overweight children can struggle to sustain the same strenuous exercise sessions as their fitter friends - always adapt activity to suit their strength, stamina and self-esteem without forcing them to feel like they fail to fit in.

7. Minors' will feel more inclined to improve their fitness if exercise is exciting - wildlife walks, play parks and green fingered fun can all achieve this whilst igniting an interest in outdoor activity.

8. Placing unnecessary pressure on children to participate in a particular form of physical activity will often drive them to develop a genuine dislike for exercise - aim to give them the freedom of choice where possible.

9. Emphasising that exercise is solely for the elimination of excess weight can push children to participate in physical activity for the wrong reasons - always make a point to promote the physical and psychological benefits of moving more.

10. Minors' are more likely to avoid participating in physical activity as a result of a psychological barrier/s - aim to establish and eliminate the core culprit/s responsible for their reluctance in order to ensure that exercise and activity aren't avoided.

Final thought: all young people aged 5-18 should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate (playing in the playground) to vigorous (swimming) aerobic activity every day, as well as bone and muscle strengthening exercises such as skipping, climbing, football and walking three times a week - as many vigorous aerobic activities also build stronger bones and muscles, additional activity isn't always essential (not that moving more is a bad thing!). For tinier tots under the age of 5, active play should be pushed as much as possible in order to prevent long periods of inactivity.

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