Children are turning their backs on physical activity, according to a new report that found a “staggering” number cannot even swim or ride a bike.
A study of 1,500 children aged between six and 15 showed twice as many spent their free time watching TV than playing sport, while around half surfed the internet, chatted on social networks and played video games.
Tata Steel said its study found 15% of children could not swim, one in 10 had not learnt how to ride a bike and almost a quarter had never run a distance of 400 metres.
I have three children and two have them have physical special needs. This makes it more difficult for them to partake and enjoy the activities available to most. We do however have them swimming at least twice a week, along with visits to park, walks on woodland and attempts to get them riding bikes. My daughter is nearly 10 years old and can still not ride a bike. She has a condition called Dyspraxia (sometimes referred to as Developmental Co-ordination Disorder [DCD]) but she does what she can to overcome issues with balance and confidence. Between us, my wife and I participate in triathlon (sprint, Olympic and middle distance), marathons, half marathons, park runs, bike time trials and training in the pool and runs with the Harriers. We have a great local triathlon club (www.lbt.org.uk) and appreciate all they do to provide assistance and encouragement,
With such a fast growing sport of Triathlon, it seems a shame that so many able bodied children are not channeled into physical activity and team play. An incredible athlete who up until recently was a civil servant is a shining example of what can be achieved if mind and body allow – I am of course talking about Chrissie Wellington. Now, the civil servant from rural Norfolk is the greatest female endurance athlete on the planet. “I love my body,” she declares. “I am more than content with it. I take a holistic view and see it not just as the contours of my skin but as the muscles, sinews, bones and everything else. This body has taken me to heights that I never imagined. I do love it, and I don’t mean that in an arrogant way”. “I’m not flawless,” she says standing, muscular arms akimbo, on the wobbly table. “I have unattractive feet, unruly hair and oversized calves, but I push this body to its absolute limit and it has never let me down.”
Sport England’s Executive Director of Children and Young People Mike Diaper said: “Youngsters have to make an active choice to go and do sport in their own time and that is where it is competing with computers, going meeting their friends and other things.
“What we’ve found is that when you actually talk to youngsters ask them what sports they want to do in their own time, where they want to do them, and you actually try and provide that, they will actually take that opportunity up.”
We have home computers, Nintendo Wii, Apple iTouch, Nintendo DSi consoles with a variety of reasons:- Wii is good group fun and we often have music on the iTouch and PC. I’m not suggesting there isn’t a place for these modern day entertainment units but let’s get them out of the house, “playing out” and contributing to society and their self development with team, group and individual recreational activities.
More blogs at http://www.itriathlete.co.uk
Individuals and Teams are welcome to enter and take on the challenge on their own or shared.
Compressport are pleased to announce a partnership agreement with Team Raleigh that will see it as the official compression brand partner for the team this season.
Chrissie Wellington won her first race of 2011 finishing Ironman South Africa in another world record time.