Family Fitness
Being active isn't just about feeling stronger, fitter, more energetic and sleeping better. It's all about having fun too! Why not have fun and be active together by making health and fitness not just a solo pursuit, but a family pursuit?
Getting the kids moving has never been more important. Going back to December 2019, Sport England research showed that just 47 per cent of children in England were achieving an average of 60 minutes of physical activity each day. The pandemic has only made the situation worse, and that figure now stands at less than 45 per cent, with nearly one in three children doing less than 30 minutes of activity a day.
But, with all the barriers that were in place during lockdown now removed (leisure centres, clubs, facilities, swimming pools, local spaces and pitches are all open) – why are the numbers still so low? In our own, Places Leisure member research, amongst the many barriers our parents have told us about – screen time, (iPads, TVs, games consoles), availability of their chosen activity nearby – one of the largest barriers for our families is cost of structured activity. And, this is where we can help.
At Places Leisure centres across the country, we’re trying to help families by making memberships as value driven as possible. So, if you love to go swimming every week – bring the kids and share your love of swimming with them! Equally, if you’re a gym junkie bring your tween/teen and let them flex their muscles! You’ll be modelling health and fitness routines at an early age as well as creating a bond that can, undoubtedly, last a lifetime.
NHS guidelines state that kids need to be active for at least 60 minutes a day, with 30 minutes of this outside of school. This should include three sessions a week of activity that strengthens muscles and bones, so it’s crucial to mix it up – and bringing the kids to your local centre provides the perfect opportunity to vary activities.
And it's not just physically that kids benefit – being active also helps with mental health. Evidence shows that children and young people who are more active have more confidence, higher self-esteem, less anxiety and stress, and better social skills – attributes that can help them deal with the challenges they face in daily life.
No matter the weather this winter, our fitness playground is always open, so bring the kids along and enjoy being active together! Find out more by checking out our Premium Membership option.