Get your kids fit
 by Kelly Holmes

“I firmly believe that if you teach your kids good habits and encourage them to get involved in physical activity at a young age, you can really boost their confidence and self-esteem. If your children participate in activity and eat healthily they'll have a much better chance of being fit and healthy for the rest of their life.
What's more, if your kids are more active and get involved in sport, outdoor activities or dance, they'll have more fun - childhood shouldn't be all about sitting in front of a TV or computer screen! With so much emphasis on and discussion about the state of children's fitness today, I believe parents have a huge amount of responsibility for keeping their kids active . . .
Benefits
Being physically active can help your child:
• have a healthy heart
• develop strong muscles and bones
• stay a healthy weight
• relax and cope with stress
• enjoy mixing with others
• feel a sense of achievement
• concentrate better at school
• gain more confidence
• have higher self-esteem
How much activity do children need?
Your kids should aim to participate in activity of at least moderate intensity for one hour every day. If they don't do much activity at the moment, they should start by doing at least half an hour per day. This could be brisk walking, active play, cycling, swimming, dance or most sports. The one hour doesn't have to be done all at once - it can be done in mixed active play in shorter bursts throughout the day. At least twice a week, children should take part in some activities that help to enhance and maintain muscular strength and flexibility and bone strength...”

Taken from the book GET YOUR KIDS FIT by Dame Kelly Holmes the double Olympic gold medallist, published by Virgin Books, the article continues to describe some of the exercises used in the Kelly Holmes School Challenge in Kent.