National Childrens Activity Week

During the 16th National Children’s Activity Week, we encouraged children across the UK to help other children as they all joined in the fun of the sponsored ‘Balance Challenge’.

With around 27% of children in the UK now overweight or obese, and a third of children aged 2-11 having less than 60 minutes of moderate activity each day it is more important than ever to introduce children to physical activity from an early age as possible (BMA 2005). 

Tumble Tots National Children's Activity Week is in its 16th years and focussed on  ‘balance’ with 'The Balance Challenge'.  Balance capabilities play a critical role in being able to accomplish daily activities such as feeding, dressing, picking up objects from the floor etc that we take for granted.

Babies start learning to balance from the moment they can lift their heads. Eventually they will raise from laying to sitting and eventually to standing. Encourage babies to stand from the sitting position holding their hands and sing and dance with them. This will give them the experience of balancing, with aid in the standing position and having some fun at the same time.

Remember when practicing any physical skills at home or outside consider your child’s safety, use padded floor mats or soft rugs. Make sure any equipment that you use is stable and in good condition, support your child where possible by holding the back of their T-shirt enabling the child to have arms free to aid themselves and find their own centre of balance….. and most of all have some fun! 

This year we were supported by Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The sessions during National Childrens Activity week were sprinkled with some Disney Magic, as they celebrated the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on DVD from November 9th and Blu-Ray from November 2nd. 

Also, as it is our 30^th Anniversary we raised funds in aid of BBC Children in Need, who like ourselves are celebrating 30 years of their annual telethon. The BBC Children in Need Appeal to help make a positive change to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.  To raise funds children will be askd to take up 'The Balance Challenge' by completing 10 different balances during their classes.

The next BBC Children in Need Appeal will take place on 20 November 2009. For more information please visit bbc.co.uk/pudsey

 A free copy of ‘The Balance Challenge’ booklet can be obtained through your local Tumble Tots centres across the UK or from Tumble Tots (UK) Limited. Parents or schools just need to ring tel: 0121 585 7003 to request a copy.  Altenatively you can download a copy of the booklet by clicking here.

 Competition

A chance to win a week at Forge Cottage in the Cotswolds or 1 of 10 copies of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on DVD. 

How to enter

Doc, Sneezy, Grumpy, Happy, Bashful, Sleepy and ____________.