Active Play is to be used in schools in the Highlands to encourage children to play outdoors.
High levels of inactivity have been found to be damaging children’s physical and mental wellbeing – and could have a long-lasting impact on their development.
Playing outdoors helps children work on key skills from balance and coordination to social and emotional intelligence.
To help tackle inactivity, an Active Play programme is being rolled out in communities and schools in Inverness, Aviemore and Ullapool, with 360 children to benefit from the initiative.
It hopes to help children develop positive relationships with physical activity experiences by introducing fun and inclusive outdoor activities.
Tried and tested
Active Play was first trialled in Glasgow as part of Inspiring Scotland’s Thrive Outdoors fund in 2016. It yielded extremely positive results with 5,000 children in 147 primary schools involved.
80% of participants took part in more active play at breaks and lunchtime as a result, and 74% took up or planned to take up new sports clubs or after school activities.
Melodie Crumlin, Inspiring Scotland’s Thrive Outdoors Fund manager, who leads on the Active Play programme, said: “Physical literacy skills in Scotland are not well developed, meaning children are missing fundamental movement skills, which can go on to have lifelong consequences for children’s physical and mental health.
“The Active Play programme has been proven to increase physical activity, and in turn physical literacy skills to also improve emotional, social and cognitive development.
“From here, children are more likely to stay active into adulthood, leading healthier lives and have a lot of fun along the way.”
Ullapool gets involved
To celebrate the programme’s move north, Sport Secretary Maree Todd visited participants at Ullapool Primary School to see it in action.
“Active Play is vital in providing children with the opportunity to develop physical skills in their early years and to encourage a long-term relationship with physical activity,” she said.
“As well as the positive impact on health and wellbeing that comes from being active, it can also be a lot of fun – which is just as important. These sessions will help more children across the community to develop the skills and confidence to enjoy being more physically active.”
The programme is being brought to the Highlands by Cala Childcare with investment from Scottish Government Active Scotland Division and support from Inspiring Scotland.
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