Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:

• Raising your self-esteem.
• Helping adults and children set goals and targets, and then achieve them.
• Causing chemical changes in your brain that actively help to improve your mood.
• Allowing you to undertake fun activities as a family that develop strong bonds & relationships over time.

Walking:

Simple, free and effective. A short walk has been proven to release enough happy chemicals in your head to lift your mood! 10 mins is all it takes to achieve the effect.

We are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. As and when Lockdown restrictions end, we shall post some of the best local places to go and explore...

Couch to 5k:

For the more adventurous, you may wish to consider a goal-based programme that you can work towards over a period of time.

Couch to 5K is a free running plan for absolute beginners. Running is great for weight loss, improving heart and lung function, strengthening bones, and giving you a general sense of wellbeing. The Couch to 5K plan involves 3 runs a week, with a day of rest between each run and a different plan for each of the 9 weeks. You can find out more using the link below:

Cycling:

Whether you're cycling to work, school, the shops or just for fun, the humble bicycle is an easy way to be more active. Cycling to work or school is one of the easiest ways of fitting exercise into your day. It'll also save you money on petrol or public transport costs. If you do not have a bike, you may be able to get an affordable bike through the government's Bike2Work scheme. 

As a school, we have invested in quality bike shelters that allow our staff and children to secure their bikes safely. Our Upper Key Stage 2 children also have the opportunity to participate in the Bikeability sessions that educate them about the basics of cycle safety.

Park games:

Remember the games you used to play in the playground? Games like hide-and-seek, "it" and "stuck in the mud" are not only good fun, they're an excellent way for all the family to be active, too. These types of games involve short bursts of intense activity and periods of rest, which are very effective for improving fitness, especially if you're not usually very active.

Here in Honiton we are lucky to have some great, public open spaces. Why not check out some of the fun games below at get yourselves out and about to play them in the open air (following Covid rules until they are eased)