Two-fifths of children want to be more physically active than they currently are but some report spending six hours a day glued to their devices when not at school, according to research by ukactive.
A survey of more than 1,000 children and young people aged seven to 14, conducted with kids and family insight agency, Beano Brain, has revealed the latest views and habits of the next generation when it comes to being active.
It comes as ukactive launches its ‘Next Generation’ strategy for investing in the future of children and young people’s physical activity levels – with the ambition to get one million more children active by 2030.
The new polling shows a clear desire from children and young people to be more physically active and helps to identify their main motivations.
Only 26% of children sampled said they’d want to be on a screen over taking part in physical activity and 40% said that they want to be more physically active than they currently are.
However, over half of the seven to 14-year-olds sampled (53%) are using screens for more than three hours each day when not in school, with almost a quarter (24%) of 11 to 14-year-olds spending more than six hours a day on devices.
Spending time on screens increases as children get older, but their time being active does not. Over a third (35%) say they do just half an hour or less of activity a day (outside of school time), with one in 10 saying they do just a few minutes. The Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines for children aged five to 18 recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity a day.
What helps you enjoy physical activity?
- Doing it with friends/people I know – 63%
- Wearing my own choice of clothes – 49%
- When the coach or teacher is friendly/supportive – 46%
- When it’s not too serious – 43%
- Being in a place I am familiar with – 42%
Almost a third (30%) of children and young people said they prefer to be physically active but not as part of a competition.
Girls in particular said being active with people they knew was important (69%) rising to 73% aged 11 to 14). They also valued having a supportive coach (51%).
Overall, 34% of children and young people said having someone organise physical activity properly helps them to enjoy it more.
The UK is facing a physical health and mental health crisis, and children are no exception. Evidence shows that children and young people who are more active have more confidence, higher self-esteem, less anxiety and stress, better social skills and better academic performance – attributes that can help them deal with the challenges they face in daily life.
Widely published evidence also shows that physical activity is essential in preventing over 20 chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, many types of cancer, showing the value of supporting positive habits that continue from childhood to old age.
The polling insights indicate how more children and young people can be engaged and help show why gym and fitness activities and swimming saw the greatest growth in participation last year (2.2% and 2.6% respectively) according to Sport England’s Active Lives Survey.
The ‘Next Generation’ Strategy will seek to build on this by helping to strengthen the physical activity sector’s existing offer for children and young people by driving consumer insights, evolving industry standards and refreshing guidance for supporting services and programmes.
Participation in gyms and leisure facilities has more than doubled in the past five years, with 908,000 more young people taking part compared to 2017-18. In 2023 almost a quarter of children and young people (23%) were engaging in gym sessions, which equates to a population total estimate of 1,697,900, suggesting that the interest is increasing. It places gym and fitness in the top 10 activities that children and young people are now taking part in.
Options for children and young people in gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres have evolved to engage the next generation in fun and varied ways. For example, David Lloyd Clubs’ ‘BLAZE REBELS’ programme offers a family exercise class for children aged eight and over accompanied by an adult, and Everyone Active provides junior memberships where those aged 11 to 15 can try gym activities under the supervision of a staff member or parent.
The ‘Next Generation’ Strategy will seek to better understand the needs and demands of children and young people to support operators in encouraging participation in physical activity, as well ensuring children and young people are welcomed safely into facilities.
The strategy will also seek to foster greater collaboration with industry partners to strengthen connections with schools and wider community provision, as well as supporting existing partner calls, including those from the Youth Sport Trust on the elevation of PE in school.
Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “Children and young people are telling us they want to be more active and that they really value fun and varied activities in familiar, supported environments.
“As sedentary screen time and mental health issues grow, the Government must take a new policy approach if it is to help create a generation of happy, healthy children focusing on the essential role of our nation’s gyms, pools and leisure centres in helping the health and wellbeing of the youngest in our society.
“We encourage this new Government to acknowledge and support the growth in demand from children and young people for fitness, dance, swim and gym activities, alongside traditional sports, and support the sector to reach even more young people with the physical, mental, and social benefits that being active provides.
“Our Next Generation strategy will help our members to engage one million more children and young people across the UK by 2030, with updated guidance and regular insights to improve our services.”
Stephanie Peacock, Sports Minister, said: “Grassroots sport has the potential to transform lives, which is why we are building and upgrading thousands of multi-sport facilities to help you get active wherever you live. Alongside this, we have launched a review of the school curriculum designed to ensure that sport is not just the preserve of a privileged few.
“We all have a role to play in getting the nation moving, so I welcome this contribution from ukactive which provides a clear direction for the sector to create opportunities for children and young people to enjoy the benefits of physical activity.”
To read ‘The Next Generation: A strategy for investing in the future of children and young people’s physical activity levels’ click here.
