And why we need to do something to change that.
Have you signed your child up for a winter sport yet?
If you haven’t then maybe you should reconsider as studies have suggested that Australian children are falling behind in sporting skills such as kicking, throwing, running and jumping.
An article published by The Conversation stated a Western Australian study has seen a marked decline in fundamental physical fitness and skills for six to twelve-year-olds.
They went on to say that a NSW study on 14,000 kids had found that, “By the time they left primary school competency was low, with less than 50% being competent at running, jumping, catch kick and overarm throw.”
As a mother of two very active boys I found these figures startling. My boys love their cricket, soccer and footy and both have bikes and scooters and they ride too.
How did we get to this point? And more importantly how do we fix it?
Sure we could get into an argument on screen time and how it may or may not have been a factor in these findings or, instead, we could actively do something about it.
The studies show the problem is there and as parents it is our job to help fix it.
It is our children’s health, wellbeing and future that will be impacted on if we don’t.
It’s tough, though, trying to educate your child and encourage physical fitness without crossing the line and making them too body conscious.