Research recently published in the medical journal BMJ Open has revealed that almost half of the country’s seven-year-olds live such inactive lives that they do less than an hour of exercise a day.
The research, from the Millennium Cohort Study, is concerning when viewed alongside recommendations from the UK’s chief medical officer that children should do at least an hour of exercise a day to reduce obesity and health problems.
Darran Hine, sales director at Sovereign Play Equipment, welcomes the research: “Although we are obviously a commercial enterprise, we are passionate about what we do because we feel a duty of care to children.
“It is because of this that we welcome any research which underlines the physical, mental and social benefits of play and communicates how being active can help boost health and stop children becoming overweight or developing health problems.
“It is our hope that findings such as those published by BMJ Open, will encourage specifiers to think more seriously about the way playgrounds are designed, and which equipment should be selected to encourage and enable the children to be more active while playing.”
The Association of Play Industries, which works hard to secure support for and investment in high-quality, accessible and fun play spaces, echoes Sovereign’s understanding that active play, both outdoors and indoors, has a vital part to play in supporting the development of healthy children.
Mr Hine concluded: “By encouraging children to be active from an early age you are laying the foundations for them to grow into active adults. Children take the majority of their cues from their parents, so if you live a sedentary lifestyle, the chances are your children will too.
“Active play is beneficial to adults and children alike and is a bonding exercise for families too. There really is very little to recommend being inactive.”
- To find out how Sovereign Play Equipment can help your children develop physically, mentally and socially through play, email ?info@sovereign.gb.com, visit www.sovereignplayequipment.co.uk or call 01702 291129.