Five ways to keep children active this autumn

Many of children’s go-to hobbies focus around sedentary activities but it’s more important than ever to make sure you are keeping active. Here’s some inspiration to get the whole family moving and feeling autumnal!

1. Pumpkin picking

Ever been to a pumpkin patch? Picking your own pumpkin from a local farm rather than the supermarket supports local people and adds to the fun in the run-up to Halloween. It’ll also provide a workout for whichever adult is lifting the pumpkins!

Don’t stop there, when you get home, turn some of your haul into a pie! Why not use the rest of the pumpkins to decorate the entrance to your home so the neighbours can also enjoy that autumn feeling?

2. Walking and cycling

A little boy getting a piggy back from his dad

Take advantage of the crisp but not yet freezing mornings to go for a walk or cycle. Challenge children to count how many autumn trees they find or how many leaves of different colours they can collect.

When you get home, why not warm up with a homemade autumnal drink? Spiced hot chocolate anyone? Or come up with your own creation using autumnal spices. Keep little hands busy by making use of those collected leaves and making a collage or a greeting card.

3. Get moving at home

If you’re staying at home, this doesn’t mean children need to be sitting still. Distract them from some of the more sedentary hobbies in favour of getting active in the comfort of your living room.

Super Movers has plenty of fun routines for the whole family to choose from or youngsters can always try out one of the Brain Boosters and get learning something new like practising their times tables whilst they move! Super Movers family dance-off anyone? You could also have a go at some gentle stretching or yoga.

4. Gardening

Autumn can be a great time of year to spruce up an indoor or outdoor garden before the winter months. Why not set young hands to work on gathering up some of the autumn leaves. They could also tidy up and clean unused pots and seed trays ready for spring - make a note of what you will plant in springtime.

If you don’t have an outdoor garden why not think about what you could do indoors to bring some greenery indoors? Herbs like rosemary or parsley could be a good place to start. If relevant to you, remember to check which plants are pet-friendly before starting!

5. Acting out a favourite book

If the weather stops you from getting outside, it can be hard for children to reach the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day. So how about other ways to keep you moving indoors? Ask children to pick their favourite book and to act it out for the whole family. Rehearsals will be needed before the final performance!