How much exercise do children really need – and what type?

Elementary School Pupils Running Near Climbing Equipment Running Towards Camera — monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images

I wasn’t a sporty child. Neither of my parents did any exercise, and if they thought I was keeping fit at school, they were wrong. In hindsight, this was a big mistake, as it is becoming increasingly clear that physical activity is hugely important for a child’s cognitive and physical development, setting them on a healthier trajectory for the years to come.

So how can I do better for my own children? They are aged 5 and 7, and the UK’s physical health guidelines state that those aged 5 to 18 should be racking up 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity on average per day, which means the kinds of things that leave them slightly hot and sweaty (think playground games or a brisk walk). The US guidelines are similar.

This article is part of a series on fitness that answers eight questions about exercise and its influence on our bodies and minds. Read more here.

An hour a day sounds like a lot, but remember that children tend to exercise vigorously in fits and starts, says Russ Jago at the University of Bristol, UK. Add up the moments that they spend charging about the playground or at sporty after-school clubs and it begins to feel possible. Helpfully, the guidelines stress an average of 60 minutes per day – some days might be more active, others less so, and that is alright.

Still, I couldn’t really tell you what my children get up to at school, so I am in the dark about whether they meet the guidelines. I am not the only one. “Measuring physical activity is difficult in general, measuring physical activity…