Nursery World - Children's activity levels have returned post-lockdown, but most do not meet physical activity guidelines

Children’s physical activity levels are largely the same now as before the pandemic, but just under 60 per cent are not meeting Government activity targets, according to new research.

The researchers say that not enough 10- and 11-year-olds meet physical activity guidelines PHOTO Adobe Stock

A University of Bristol study found that by summer last year just 41 per cent of 10- and 11-year-olds surveyed were meeting the national physical activity guidelines of an hour on average of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily.

This is an improvement on the immediate time after the pandemic when just over a third (37 per cent) were meeting the target.

The same research also shows that children are more sedentary during the week since lockdown restrictions lifted, spending an extra 13 minutes a day on average being inactive.

Lead author Russ Jago, professor of physical activity and public health, said, ‘It’s encouraging that on average children’s physical activity levels are back to where they were before the pandemic.

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