Ideally, your school age child should be getting at least one hour and up to several hours of moderate to vigorous exercise per day.
- Moderate activities should get your child gently huffing and puffing and are about as intense as a brisk walk.
- Vigorous activities will get your child huffing and puffing quite a bit. He should build up quite a sweat.
- This kind of activity can be enjoyed in small blocks of time, about 5-15 minutes and ideally build up to around two hours over the day.
Physical activity is not necessarily ‘exercise’. Your child doesn’t have to play an organised sport or push-ups in order to benefit. Some simple activities can include:
- Going for a walk or walking to and/ or from child care or school
- Spending time at the playground
- Playing in the garden or at the beach
- Playing chase in the garden or the school yard.
Read more: How do I encourage my child to be active?
