Active children

As well as healthy eating it is vital that children have exercise to build healthy bones and muscles. It is very difficult in this computer age to prevent children being 'hooked' on computer games! Now is a great time to start! The Olympics being hosted in London should help to fire children with enthusiasm.

Every child may have fine motor skills and the co-ordination appropriate to different sports. The type of exercise that appeals to one child will not necessarily suit everyone. Some like ball or racket sports, some like team games and others more individual activities.

All children at school have basic forms of athletics which include core running skills, throwing and jumping. They will have gymnastic lessons as well as dance and movement

As they get older they use all these skills to play football, rugby, rounders, netball, tennis and swimming. It is usually at about seven or eight that they properly understand the concept and the idea of working with others in a team.

Children are more inspired to work at and enjoy a sport that they can play well and win! Parents agreed on the top 5 things that sport did for their children.

1. They had fun
2. They were more healthy
3. They certainly gained confidence
4.They made friends and interacted better with all other children
5.They learnt to compete and to lose! Two good lessons for life!