Staying fit should be a family affair

A common excuse that parents make for not exercising regularly is that they are too busy looking after their children and don't have the time.

So, there goes that excuse.

A family that plays together not only gets fit together, but also enjoys a time of bonding that's arguably more effective than a trip to the mall or a chat over dinner.

Besides, most children these days could do with more physical activity. According to a recent study by the University of South Australia, children aged between nine and 17 were on average 15 per cent less fit than their counterparts between 1970 and 2010. The decline in fitness was twice as much for Asian children, who were 30 per cent worse off than their peers. The researchers had analysed 50 studies from 28 countries on the running fitness of some 25 million children.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department endorses the World Health Organisation's recommendations for the amount of physical activity children need. Those aged five to 17 should accumulate at least 60 minutes daily of moderate or vigorous physical activities; doing more will bring greater health benefits. While the bulk of activities should be aerobic, children should also do bone and muscle strengthening exercises at least three times a week.

Three-year-old Anthony Powell, who demonstrates the circuit with Quinlan, is among nearly 500 children aged between 18 months and 12 years who attend Sport4Kids classes at least once a week. Children are divided into narrow age groups and dabble in a variety of sports, including athletics, basketball, rugby, football and gymnastics.