It is well known that exercise is good for you, and there are many health and wellbeing benefits connected with physical activity – it is good for your mind and your body!
A great way to incorporate physical activity into a child’s routine is to create a ‘mile-a-day’ challenge. The ‘mile a day’ is easy to implement and is fun to take part in. The ‘mile a day’ challenge helps to improve the health and wellbeing of children, with the benefits that the children gain are physical, emotional, social and mental – all from running or jogging. The children can take the route at their own pace… and takes just 15 minutes. Our team are here to help you to implement… whether it’s adding a new path, a new surface or adding points of interest such as musical items.
- Fun to do! Children socialise with their friends whilst exercising too.
- Easy to implement. No changing, setting up or tidying away – once you have your route set, this is a great way of encouraging children to exercise.
- Totally inclusive – all children, in all weathers can take part. Children with additional needs can be supported too
- You can make the route fun for your children by adding with pathways, updating existing surfaces… or maybe add musical items along the way!
- Whatever the weather! Enhance your existing outdoor space to make the mile a day challenge suitable for all weather conditions
Science supports the mile-a-day challenge too!
There are lots of scientific studies too, that have all concluded that the mile-a-day challenge helps to re-build children’s fitness and improve their emotional and mental health and well-being. Walking (… or running, skipping or hopping!), a mile a day is a great way to take a break from the classroom and refocus a child and help to increase their ability to learn. The mile-a-day challenge can be implemented whilst maintaining social distancing and within class or group bubbles.
A Dutch study concluded that a mile-a-day challenge for 12 weeks proved to have a beneficial effect on children’s aerobic fitness levels when implemented 3-4 times a week. You can find out more here
Another study concluded that a mile-a-day challenge made children happier and was good for their learning. The study found that just 15 minutes of self-paced outdoor activity was beneficial for children’s cognition and well-being, which in turn enhances a child’s ability to learn. You can find out more here
Examples of how we can help you to create mile-a-day tracks are…
- Paths
- Artificial grass paths
- Add musical items along the way
Our team are here to help you with ideas for the mile a day challenge. To book your FREE consultation with a Playground Consultant click here.
