Childhood Activity: Common Questions
The physical activity recommended for children and young people.
Last revised
Childhood Activity: the questions people actually ask, answered from published guidance.
Key takeaways
- Ages 5-18: an average of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day
- Under 5s who can walk: at least 180 minutes a day spread through the day
- Most useful single change: Include impact activities such as running, jumping and skipping.
- Commonest mistake: Framing activity as a weight intervention.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
What is Childhood Activity?
The physical activity recommended for children and young people.
Why does it matter?
It builds bone during the only window when peak bone mass is being laid down, and habits formed here tend to persist.
Ages 5-18 for Childhood Activity?
An average of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day.
Under 5s who can walk for Childhood Activity?
At least 180 minutes a day spread through the day.
Bone-strengthening activity for Childhood Activity?
On at least 3 days a week.
Sedentary time for Childhood Activity?
Should be minimised.
What is the single most useful thing to do?
Include impact activities such as running, jumping and skipping.
What is the most common mistake?
Framing activity as a weight intervention.
When should I see a doctor?
See a GP for joint pain that persists, limping, pain that wakes a child at night, swelling of a joint, or a child who is reluctant to use a limb. Night pain and persistent bone pain in children always warrant assessment. Seek urgent help for a hot swollen joint with fever.
Where to go next
- Childhood Activity: Separating Myth From Guidance
- The First Steps With Childhood Activity
- Childhood Activity — the reference entry
- Childhood Rashes: What Published Guidance Supports
- What the Guidance Really Says About Child Mental Health
When to get help
See a GP for joint pain that persists, limping, pain that wakes a child at night, swelling of a joint, or a child who is reluctant to use a limb. Night pain and persistent bone pain in children always warrant assessment. Seek urgent help for a hot swollen joint with fever.
Where this comes from
- UK Chief Medical Officers — Physical Activity Guidelines for children
- NHS — Physical activity guidelines for children
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
