Brrrr......

There’s a bite in the air and winter is definitely upon us but I'm afraid that doesn’t mean you can sit on the sofa and call it Christmas!

Your kids still need to get out!

Scarily, a fifth of children don’t play outdoors at all on an average day. We’ve all plonked our kids in front of an ipad so we can get something done but that needs to be balanced with blowing off a bit of steam outside.

The list of benefits of doing sport is almost endless:

• better sleep
• stronger bones
• greater happiness
• reduced anxiety and so on!

These benefits aren’t just about physical health, they help improve mental wellbeing as well because it helps kids build greater self-confidence, have a sense of freedom and use their imagination.

In fact, it goes even further. Researchers have found that being close to nature helps to boost children’s attention span and fosters creative play, which relieves symptoms of attention deficit disorders.

Check out this video of Dr Vanessa Moulton talking about how Nature is even being prescribed by doctors!!!

Most kids sports clubs are looking out for the talented kids, which sadly means that kids who aren’t naturally sporty are being pushed to one side or even asked to leave. They’re very likely to stop enjoying sport altogether.

We’ve heard this happening to kids as young as five. If they’re giving up sport this young, then they are missing out on a huge part of their physical and mental development. Every kid should be able to enjoy sport. Kids Rugby is fantastic for developing a range of sports skills and social confidence as well as instilling vital principles like teamwork and discipline!! So playing kids rugby outside just about covers every base!

We totally understand it's hard to motivate yourself when it's so cold and dark but it’s absolutely vital that kids continue to do sport outside throughout the winter.

So the key here is to wrap up warm, get outside, do sport and have lots and lots of fun!