A new government-backed campaign is encouraging parents and children to become more active together, after research found that many families lack confidence when it comes to sport
and physical activity.
The survey, published alongside the latest phase of the Government’s Let’s Move! campaign, found that 82% of parents would like their families to be more active together. Yet confidence remains a major obstacle: 61% said they avoid physical activities because they do not believe they are good enough at them, while 49% said they do not consider themselves naturally sporty.
The new “New Moves Club” initiative aims to challenge the idea that families need to be skilled at sport to enjoy being active. Instead, it encourages parents and children to experiment with unfamiliar activities together, with an emphasis on participation and having fun rather than performance.
EastEnders actress and mother Charlie Brooks has joined fitness coach and father Joe Wicks to promote the initiative. In a new campaign film, the pair meet families around the country and take part in activities ranging from basketball and cricket to yoga and hula hooping.
The campaign focuses particularly on children aged between seven and 11 and is designed to make physical activity easier to incorporate into everyday family life.
Government research found that 68% of parents believe it is more difficult to encourage their children to be active when they are not active themselves. At the same time, 40% said a lack of time prevents them from exercising with their children.
The initiative therefore promotes short periods of activity that can be fitted into existing routines. Families are encouraged to start with just 10 minutes of movement and gradually build towards the NHS recommendation that children should average at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
Currently, fewer than half of children in the UK are achieving that recommended level.
The research also highlights wider benefits of exercising together. More than half of parents surveyed said family activity provides valuable additional time together, while others reported happier children and reduced screen time.
For children, having fun is the strongest motivation, with 60% identifying enjoyment as the main reason they would want to be active with their families.
Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock said: “Every child deserves the chance to enjoy the benefits of being active. We know that children who get at least an hour of physical activity a day are happier and healthier, but new research shows that many parents lack the confidence to try activities with their children.
“This year’s Let’s Move! campaign is celebrating having a go, and most importantly having fun. We’re encouraging families to try something new together - whether that’s a kickabout in the park, a quick family walk after school or a dance at home. When parents join in and give it a go, it helps children see that being active is fun, achievable and for everyone”.
Brooks said children were generally less concerned about whether their parents were talented at sport than about whether they were willing to participate.
She highlighted everyday activities such as playing football in the park, dancing at home or experimenting with something new as examples of how families can create positive memories without needing specialist equipment or skills.
Brooks also acknowledged the pressures on parents, arguing that physical activity does not have to require a major change to the family schedule.
The campaign encourages parents to incorporate movement into routines they already follow, even when they have only 10 minutes available.
Wicks similarly stressed that families do not need expensive equipment or extensive training to become more active.
He said that the most important thing was for parents and children to participate together, have fun and build confidence rather than worry about how well they perform.
The Let’s Move! campaign forms part of the Government’s broader efforts to improve physical activity and public health. This includes a £400 million investment in grassroots sports facilities, intended to provide communities with better places to exercise and participate in sport.
According to Sport England, increasing physical activity could also have a significant long-term impact on public health, with physical activity helping to prevent around 3.2 million cases of long-term health conditions each year.
The Government says the New Moves Club is ultimately intended to make family activity feel less like another obligation and more like an opportunity for parents and children to spend time together. Photo by Airman 1st Class Kerelin Molina, Wikimedia commons.
