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Can you believe that there was a wee glimpse of what might come this summer? Blue skies most days, the smell of fresh cut grass in the air and that sudden realisation than no matter what the adverts say, you are definitely not beach ready!
With all of this lead into summer comes sports days, school trips and the parental ability to turn a blind eye to a tight school shoe for the sake of three and half weeks. We all know that the school holidays are just a short hop, skip and jump away and there is no time to worry about anything other than babysitters, combating childhood boredom and willing yourself not to turn to gin as a solution.
This week we decided it was time to turn our fitness section attention to the children; six and half weeks is a long time in the life of a child and with endless possibilities and whole days of nothingness it’s easy to see why they could become bored.
If, like I did when Cain was younger, you work fulltime then the stress of sending them somewhere you know they will moan about ruins even the sunniest of days. Even if you can recruit grandparents or friends, you know these poor folks are going to need a wee break from the 257 questions/observations/spiders that your child is certain to bestow upon them!
Apart from anything, what you don’t want is an excuse for the screens to go into overdrive. We know they’d sit on the I-Pad all day long but keeping them moving is a must. All children should be physically active for at least one hour a day and you only have to take a wander down the North or South Inch to know that even the most reluctant walkers love running around a park or playing with other kids. You just need an outlet for their energy.
When kids are active, their bodies and minds develop in a positive way. There are 13 million kids in the UK and I was heartbroken to discover that one in three are overweight or obese. Research suggests that - if untreated - 85% of these children will become obese adults. This isn’t about a super honed body or trying to place the idea of perfection into kid’s impressionable young minds, its about helping them keep healthy and giving them the right start so that they enjoy their childhood and beyond.
Those 60 minutes a day will all help develop
Live Active Leisure has been running a variation of their kids Holiday Hero Camps for about twenty years now and I can recall my own son –now 23–heading off to Bell’s Sports Centre for a full week of basketball or table tennis or multi sports. He loved every minute of it and I had safe and reliable childcare. Win Win.
Since those early days the camps have evolved hugely – from single drop in sessions lasting a couple of hours to full week camps, there is an enormous choice of activities for your kids to enjoy. What amazed me most was the variety – canoeing, gymnastics, aqua fun, the new and fantastic adventure days and just for the Olympics, a very special Get Ready For Rio camp!
Talking of which, you can also take advantage of the time out to help your kids perfect their lifeskills with swimming sessions for all levels running throughout the holidays – you never know, you might have the next Stephen Milne on your hands!
So, I know this sounds like a sales pitch but I can promise you that you want to book early. These things fill fast (I have been the mother kicking herself for not just calling when I first read about it!). Remember that Just For Fun sessions are FREE for Active Fun members.
Get organised and this year’s summer holidays will mean happy, healthy kids and relaxed, non-daytime-gin-drinking you!
Holiday Hero Camps: Offered in Perth, Auchterarder and Crieff these camps are full of fun; ideal for kids in P1 - P7.
Just for Fun Sessions: Huge range of fun activities, from Snorkelling to Football. Sessions suitable for kids in P1 - P7 unless stated. FREE to Active Fun Members. Booking is advised.
Sports Camps: Progressive camps taking place over consecutive days. Learn new skills, meet new friends and have FUN! Booking is required.
Adventure Camps: Looking for something a little different? Give our Adventure Camps a go. Learn a new skill, meet new friends and get active outdoors.
Bell’s Sports Centre & Live Active Auchterarder
Daily from Mon 4 Jul - Fri 12 Aug (excludes weekends)
Full Day Camp*: 08:00 - 18:00
Half Day Camp: 08:00 - 13:00 12:00 - 18:00
Strathearn Community Campus
Mon 11 - Fri 15 Jul & Mon 1 - Fri 5 Aug
Full Day Camp*: 08:00 - 18:00
Perth Leisure Pool & Dewars Centre
Mon 18 - Fri 22 Jul & Mon 25 - Fri 29 Jul
Skate & Swim Camp 08:30 - 17:30
A camp for children aged 8+. Enjoy a skating session followed by Wet & Wild pool session.
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SCBP14th June 2016
Perthshire's only online magazine