Getting kids active this Summer
The school six weeks holidays are nearly upon us and this can mean for a lot of children that they will not get the 60 minutes of activity they need a day (79% of boys and 84% of girls ages 5-15 years). With one in five primary school children being overweight or obese (1). Worryingly the gap between boys’ and girls’ activity levels can be seen from as young as 8 years old and may have a relationship with confidence issues and insecurities in body image for young girls.
Being active is advantageous for not just children’s physical health but also their social and mental well-being. Research from the University of Oxford and Loughborough University revealed that it has a positive impact on self-esteem, social skills, increased confidence and peer acceptance, alongside a link to friendship. Finding ways to keep children active for 60 minutes at a time can be quite hard, and it is much easier to break it into 6 burst of 10 minutes. Change4Life have 10 minute shake ups, which are a way to get children moving and keep them busy. 10 Minute Shake Ups have simple to follow instructions and are easy to do indoors or out. Disney characters feature alongside recognisable Change4Life animations to create exclusive contents for schools, TV, print and online media and for face-to-face events to help inspire children to be more active. Children engage in activities that interest them which I believe was why last year’s Change4Life partnership with Disney was so successful. 64% of parents said that their children were more active and it saw the nation’s children getting active for an extra 104 million minutes!
Change 4 Life’s 10 Minute Shake Ups Disney Team Packs
This summer (2nd July- end of August 2015) the 10 Minute Shake Ups Campaign has loads of Disney-inspired games and activities. Families can sign up for a free Disney inspired 10 Minute Shake Up pack.
First ask your child/ren which team(s) they wish to join (only 3 children per household). There is Team Frozen, Team Big Hero 6, Team Monsters or Team Toy Story. Children can then help their team by doing lots of shake ups every day. Siblings can then compete against each other and/or children can visit the Change4Life website and add their Shake Ups to the team total – as well as being able to access other activity ideas and Disney content. Each pack contains lots of 10 Minute Shake Up activity cards (with Disney themed illustrations and instructions – from different films, not just from the team of their choice), a team poster and stickers (which allows children to proudly display their activities and the stickers are broken down into each week of the holidays), an exciting Disney themed wristband and timer. . You need to allow up to 2 weeks for the delivery of the pack so order it ASAP to get the most out of the summer. Whilst you are waiting you can print your child/ren a Team Certificate.
Support for Change4Life’s 10 Minute Shake Ups
Change4Life’s 10 Minute Shake Ups Campaign is supported by GP and former Gladiator Amazon, Zoe Williams. Her top tips for keeping active are to utilise the park, to remember that you can keep moving indoors as well as out, that you can get the kids active by getting them to help around the house, to walk more and drive less, do a fun run or walk for charity – and of course the 10 Minute Shake Up hub has lots of ideas. 10 Minute Shake Ups are also backed by Kaiser Chiefs’ lead singer and The Voice judge Ricky Wilson who has created his own. We were invited along to watch Disney Pixar’s Inside Out and think of 10 Minute Shake Ups related to the film.
Disney Pixar’s Inside Out
The basis of the film is that 11 year old Riley emotions are everywhere as her perfect life is uprooted when she has to move house. We see inside Riley’s head (and a few other characters’) and find out what her emotions are doing to her. Joy tries to do her best but it all becomes a bit much and Sadness is pushed to the forefront of the control center. This has an effect on the core memories and Joy tries her best not to let them turn negative. We get insight into what it is like when there is no Joy to look after things and Anger, Fear and Disgust take over.
This film is good on so many levels, from so many different angles. I shall not spoil it too much but I feel it is great for younger children as it helps learn about emotions (particularly useful for those with conditions such as autism); for preteens going through puberty; parents of preteens; psychologists – and well that was just my angle! Funny and sad (ladies take your tissues).
Out in UK Cinemas July 24th 2015.
Sources of Information:
- Health Survey for England 2012 Health and Social Care Information Centre. Health Survey for England, 2012. Leeds, UK; 2013
- Professor Kevin Fenton, National Director of Health & Wellbeing at Public Health England.
- TNS BMRB Change4Life 10 Minute Shake Up evaluation, October 2014
- Anna Chalkey, Karen Milton and Charlie Foster (2015) Change4Life evidence review
- Health and Social Care Information Centre. Health Survey for England, 2012. Leeds, UK; 2013
Myself and my family were invited to a special early screening of Inside Out in order for us to create new 10 Minute Shake Ups. Our transport and accommodation were covered and we received goody bags. Words and opinions are my own, apart from where facts have been added. I was not paid to write this post.
Great idea- especially for Disney fans! I had heard of the film- we are waiting for it to come here.
Anything that gets kids outdoors more and moving about is good in my books Joy!
This is such a good idea! Isn’t insane though that summer holidays mean less activity for some kids? I remember my summers used to involve me cycling all over town with my friends and only showing up back home for meal times.
Some good ideas here – and anything to get kids active is positive. My two are never off our trampoline – I find they are on it more these days since we sank it into the ground!!
Great facts and tips here. Thankfully Aaron can’t help but move. His activity rather than the required 60 minutes is probably more like 6 hours. He just doesn’t stop. Energetic from morning till night but I know laziness can set in with older kids who are more the target here.
The movie though sounds absolutely FABULOUS and I am 100% going to see it after reading this. I love a good bit of brain analysis and this sounds lovely.
Liska xx
If it gets kids outside it gets my vote.
As you say, ten minutes makes it SO do-able. Am I too old to want to see this film? 🙂
My kids are dying to see this movie, it looks so interesting and I’ve got a job onmy hands at the moment to make sure JJ is doing some high energy activity every day, he is computer crazy! Mich x
I love the idea of keeping kids active this summer – my son isn’t very sporty, so I feel it’s important to get outside so he can just run around and play.
oh this is brilliant – my kids really want to see the film Inside Out so anything associated is right up there for them!!
My kids came home with one of these leaflets but you’ve made me hunt it down and am going to get them to join up later! What a brilliant incentive – thank you for making it come to life. And this film looks really useful – my 10yo announced he has hit puberty which as why he is so moody! He’s been taught something about it at school – so it would give us many a great conversation opener if the film, as you say, will help. Thank you again xxx
It is sad that some children are not as active as they should be. Shake Ups sound like a great idea though to get them motivated. I would really like to see this film too-great for emotional literacy.
Great idea for Change For Life to link up with Disney. Anything that makes the next generation more active is brilliant news.
We went to see Minions in 4D in Milton Keynes the other day, and saw this advertised. It looks fab! Very entertaining for the parents too, which is always so important. Loving the getting active idea too x
It’s me that needs this 🙂 My son on the other hand never sits down and is literally on the go all day long. Great idea as I know lots of kids can be glued to the sofa.
Ooh this sounds like a great way to tempt them outside and playing. What a great idea.
I think Inside out is going to be a HUGE hit. I love the cards, we had some last summer
10 minute bursts of exercise is a great way to get the activity in – for children and adults. I do that myself to ensure I get exercise every day. I’m looking forward to watching Inside Out!
What a fantastic idea, I think it always helps when they use popular imagery to bring these things more to life. x
This is an excellent initiative. I’d like to see the film too, it sounds very interesting and I think that it will be helpful for children to learn about feelings and how to express them
We really want to see this film, it looks brillaint. I love the summer month as mine are out in the garden climbing or on the trampoline pretty much as soon as they are awake. Not sure the neighbours appreciate it though :0)
I am so glad we get to spend summers in Greece, there are plenty of opportunities for exercise for little ones here, from swimming to running around with friends to biking. But we look forward to watching the new movie, sounds like a great one for precocious small children who need to learn to understand and manage their emotions!xx
Ooh sounds like a great fun way to stay active! My kids are really looking forward to seeing Inside Out next week!
oh i so want to go see this , looks great and i know kids will love it to
What a great idea – we can’t wait to see this film and love all things Disney. Kaz x