Active kids are happy kids – they like to be up and about, running around and having fun.

The trouble is, in this modern world they’ve got other things to do and plenty of reasons not to go outside and play or run around.

In fact, kids need to do at least 60 minutes of physical activity that gets their heart beating faster than usual. And they need to do it every day to burn off calories and prevent them storing up excess fat in the body which can lead to cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Even at school they are sitting for much of the day, so getting the right amount of after school activity is important. And don’t forget their 60 active minutes at the weekend too!

For some tips on how to help them get their 60 active minutes every, visit change4life on the web or phone 0300 1234567.

Kids don’t need to get their 60 active minutes all in one go – they can clock them up bit by bit across the day.

It doesn’t matter how your kids get their 60 active minutes a day -in fact variety is good. Different activities are good for different aspects of their health. Here are a few ideas for fun ways to get your kids to move more:

1. Play

• It’s what kids do best. Running around, having fun with their friends, and burning off energy is a great way of getting some (or all) of their 60 active minutes each day.

2. Walk

• We tend to rely on cars and buses to ferry the kids around these days (particularly for short hops) when we could be using our feet. Think about walking together, rather than jumping in the car or on the bus. If the journey is too far, you could always stop a bit earlier, and put your best foot forward for the rest of the journey – and hey you can even save money by walking too.

• Activity doesn’t have to cost anything. It needn’t mean joining a gym or sports club (although that’s great if that’s what your children like). Going outside is free and fun is the best gym. So remember -any kind of activity counts towards your children’s 60 active minutes.

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