Public Health England (PHE) has launched its annual Change4Life10 Minute Shake Ups campaign in partnership with Disney and Sport England to encourage youngsters to enjoy short, regular bouts of physical activity.
This year's campaign comes as latest figures show that the number of children meeting the recommended amount of physical activity of 60 minutes a day drops by 40% as they move through primary school.
Currently, just 21% of boys and 16% of girls in the West Midlands meet the national recommended level of activity, while 23.3% of pupils start primary school overweight or obese, rising to more than a third by the time they leave.
The 10 Minute Shake Ups offer fun, 10 minute activities for children and young people and feature Disney characters as inspiration. The activities, designed to be done in small or large groups of friends, help children to get more of the 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity they need each day for healthy development and to maintain a healthy weight.
Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "The 10 Minute Shake Up is a great way for children, young people and their parents to enjoy regular, short bursts of physical activity in the company of some of their favourite Disney characters and shows.
"I'd encourage families to sign up to this year's campaign and get active this summer."
This year's 10 Minute Shake Ups feature characters from Disney Pixar's latest animation Cars 3, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Moana, Frozen Fever, and Zootropolis, as well as the stars of The Lodge. The campaign is focused on exploring new skills and navigating through 6 Disney worlds.
Worksheets styled as passports and suitcases have been distributed to local primary schools, and when pupils return to school in September, more activities will be released to encourage them to carry on being active both in and outside the classroom.
For more information and to take part, please visit Type=links;Linkid=6288;Title=Change4Life - 10 minute shake up;Target=_blank;.
Marianthi O'Dwyer, Vice President and Head of Disney Healthy Living UK, said: "We know Disney stories and characters can help inspire children and families to be more active by making it simple and fun. We are excited to continue working together with Change4Life on the 10 Minute Shake Up programme to encourage children to be more active."
Mike Diaper, Sport England's Executive Director of Children and Young People, added: "We know that parents can find getting their kids to be active a challenge. That's why we're proud to be supporting the Change4Life 10 Minute Shake Ups with Disney, which uses storytelling to create a fun, and imaginative way for children and their parents to get moving, perfectly timed for the summer holidays."
A recent survey from Public Health England and Disney looking at the effects of physical activity on children's emotional wellbeing, found that being active made 71% of five to 11 year olds in the West Midlands feel happier, while 57% were more confident and 67% more sociable, according to their parents. Importantly, 93% of children said they liked being active.
Last year's 10 Minute Shake Up helped over a million children get more active.
- released: Wednesday 19 July, 2017