WITH school holidays just around the corner, children and parents can look forward to a break from the weekday routine of the school run, ploughing through homework and having to wear (or wash in the case of parents) a school uniform.

But many youngsters, who would be fully engaged in their learning and other activities at school, often find the novelty of the summer holidays can wear off pretty quickly - with boredom setting in if there isn’t enough to do.

The digital age means that computers, tablets, mobile phones and television are a quick fix for any child looking for something to do.

However, the latest figures from Public Health England (PHE) show an alarming level of inactivity in today’s youngsters. Just 21 per cent of boys and 16 per cent of girls in the West Midlands aged five to 12 currently meet the national recommended level of activity.

They also reveal that nearly a quarter of the region’s children start primary school overweight or obese and this rises to 36.6 per cent by the time they leave school.

A new survey from PHE in partnership with Disney, which has been supporting parents to create healthier families globally since 2006, looking at the effects of physical activity on children’s emotional wellbeing found that for the West Midlands:

• More than 70 per cent of five to 11-year-olds felt happier when they were physically active. In 57 per cent of cases they were more confident and in 67 per cent of cases they were more sociable.

• Most of the children (93 per cent) questioned said they liked being active.

• The key factors motivating children to be active were joining in with friends and having more activities they liked.

• Overall the happiness of children declines with age as 64 per cent of five and six-year-olds said they always felt happy compared to 48 per cent of 11-year-olds.

• Seventeen per cent of children said they were less active due to a lack of sports or activities they enjoyed.

In a bid to try and combat the cycle of inactivity, boredom and sometimes bad behaviour in Local children during the school holidays, the Government’s Change4Life initiative is offering its 10 Minute Shake Up programme to try and encourage children to be more active in their holidays.

The scheme offers fun 10-minute activities for youngsters featuring their favourite Disney characters to inspire them to increase the amount of time they spend being active each day and give them a better chance to develop healthily and maintain a healthy weight.

Change4life has been introducing the programme in local schools in the run up to the holidays so that children can continue during the time when they are on holiday.

Dr Lola Abudu, director of Health and Wellbeing at PHE West Midlands, said: “Just 21 per cent of boys and 16 per cent of girls in the West Midlands region currently meet the national recommended level of activity of 60 minutes a day, so we really need to get our kids exercising more.

“Being active helps children to build social skills, boost self-confidence and mental wellbeing and improves bone and heart health. Physical activities along with eating healthily are also vital for tackling the growing problem of childhood obesity.

“Our Change4Life 10 Minute Shake Ups mean families will be able to take part in fun games and activities inspired by their favourite Disney characters, from Cars 3, Zootropolis, Beauty and The Beast, Moana, Frozen Fever and The Lodge – to help them reach the 60 minutes activity they need every day.

“Children will get a 10 Minute Shake Up passport, and after doing their activity they can choose a sticker and ‘stamp’ it in their passport page. The whole family can get involved, and there is also a summer event finder, so people can see what’s available in their local area.”

A spokesman for PHE West Midlands said: “The biggest complaint we hear from children is that they are bored during the summer holidays. It works with online resources for parents to use with children.”

She said it is a do-it-yourself scheme for those rainy days and it is free and fun. Anyone who has not had information about the 10 Minute Shake Ups from school can visit https://www.nhs.uk/10-minute-shake-up/shake-ups#LF4OQFcUkrr31c9J.97 for information.

“We introduce the programme through schools so the children get on board and carry on throughout the summer holidays. The schools can make sure they have all the information they need.

“The whole point of Charge4Life is about family activities. The parents can get involved with this and parents want to keep their children active. They can go out and do these activities as a family. It is also cross generational and grandparents can do it. The activities are not going to be really strenuous. It is more about getting the children engaged.

“One of the positive things, as well as reducing childhood obesity, it that it improves mental health, boredom and naughty behaviour. It is better to have them engaging in a positive activity than doing something naughty.”

Part of the incentive for youngsters to do the programme is collecting the stickers when they complete an activity. “Kids like stickers and being competitive,” she said.

Cllr John Smith, cabinet member for health and well-being, said: "The County Council fully supports the 10 Minute Shake Ups programme from Public Health England.

"Figures show only one in five primary school children in the region get the 60 minutes of exercise per day that they need to ensure healthy development and to maintain a healthy weight, with almost a quarter of children starting primary school overweight or obese, with that figure rising to over a third by the time they leave.

"Active children are not only healthier, but also more confident and sociable.

"Many children surveyed said they were less active because of a lack of sports and activities they enjoyed, and so it is fantastic to see the 10 Minute Shake Ups programme working with Disney and Sport England to really give children a range of fun sports and activities that can be enjoyed all year round, and give them a love of keeping active that will stay with them into adulthood."