The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Kids' fitness is at risk while they miss sport and hobbies — but mums are getting more physical

  • Written by Tim Olds, Professor of Health Sciences, University of South Australia

For most of our lives, the rhythms of our days are governed by crystallised routines: we get up, have breakfast, go to school or work, have lunch, dinner, watch TV, go to bed. For families, weekly routines often revolve around kids’ sport or active hobbies.

Then there are times in life when our routines are upended. Mostly these are life transitions like starting school or retiring. Less often, disruption stems from individual crises like sickness or job loss. Even rarer are social upheavals. The COVID pandemic is certainly one of those.

A number of surveys report changes in parents’ and kids’ physical activity and screen time during lockdowns. But what will this mean for their long term health and fitness?

Kids’ activity down, screentime up

According to the Royal Children’s Hospital’s National Child Health Poll[1] last year 42% of parents said their kids had been less active, while only 13% said they had been more active.

The most recent report from Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children[2] (LSAC) yielded similar results: 39% of kids said they had been less active, 29% more active.

An AUSPLAY survey[3] of 20,000 Australians over 15 found 44% of adolescents participated in fewer sports, compared to 31% being involved in more sports. In 2020, out-of-school sports participation at least once a week dropped nationally from 55% to 43% compared to 2019.

One good marker of how active kids are is how much time they spend outdoors. In the National Child Health Poll[4] 42% of parents said their kids spent less time outdoors, compared to 14% who said they spent more time outdoors. Since outdoor time is often limited to one hour during lockdown, the more active kids likely had their time curtailed.

Unsurprisingly, screen time has rocketed. Over half of parents in the same survey said their kids were spending more time using screens and digital media, even when online learning was excluded. Only 5% said their kids were getting less.

boy bored on laptop Kids are likely to be spending more time in front of screens during remote learning. Unsplash/Thomas Park, CC BY[5][6]

Parents fared better, especially mums

The story is quite different for parents[7]: 29% say they are getting more moderate physical exercise, slightly more than those who say they are getting less (24%).

The AUSPLAY surveys[8] show an increase in overall levels of physical activity in adults. But these increases are driven almost entirely by women, and mainly middle-aged women. Perhaps women in this age group who have taken on more[9] of the housework and home-schooling burden are using the time they used to spend commuting to go outside for a walk, take a break and socialise.

woman running outdoors Middle-aged mums are reporting increases in physical activity during lockdown. Unsplash/Alex McCarthy, CC BY[10]

Under lockdown, some of the important venues for sports traditionally undertaken by men were closed, so team sports were down 40–50% and gym activities were down 36% (though some undertook workouts at home). Meanwhile, common forms of physical activity for women were up — jogging (up 40%), yoga and home exercises (up 39%), walking (up 33%) — as they remained feasible.

Some 58% of parents are doing more exercise with their kids[11]. The 35–54 year-old age group increased this kind of participation by 19–23%.

Read more: Kids at home because of coronavirus? Here are 4 ways to keep them happy (without resorting to Netflix)[12]

Will it matter in the long term?

Physical inactivity has a myriad of negative health effects[13], such as lower mood, poorer cognition and mental health, weaker bones and muscles and poorer cardiovascular fitness.

Over the long term, physical inactivity increases the chances of becoming overweight and of obesity. It increases the likelihood of early onset[14] for chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, many cancers and mental illness.

If the lockdown trends for lessened physical activity are sustained, it’ll be bad news for our children’s health. The question is, once restrictions ease, will children’s activity levels return to normal?

Children get their physical activity in three main ways: play, active transport (walking, running, cycling and scooting to get somewhere) and sport.

Much of their play happens at school, so will presumably rebound once school’s back. But there have been decades-long declines[15] in children’s active transport (though such activities have enjoyed a renaissance during COVID while families stay within their local neighbourhood).

kids playing sport in schoolyard Both organised sport and schoolyard activity has been disrupted. Shutterstock[16]

Read more: From vaccination to ventilation: 5 ways to keep kids safe from COVID when schools reopen[17]

The long-term impact on sport is less clear. In June 2020, 32% of parents reported[18] concern about their kids going back to sport after the pandemic, due to ongoing fear of COVID infection. Furthermore, many families are reporting enjoyment of a slower pace[19] of life under COVID with less rushing to sporting games, classes or practice. It is possible that COVID may speed up a decades-long shift[20] in participation for both adults and kids from organised group sports (such as football, basketball and surf lifesaving), to more informal and individual activities (such as cycling, running and surfing).

Read more: Kids' grip strength is improving, but other measures of muscle fitness are getting worse[21]

Wait and see

As a society, it will be imperative that we closely observe trends in children’s (and adults’) activity, as these COVID trends have the potential to leave lasting scars with long-term health consequences.

Targeted efforts to address lockdown-related declines in physical activity may be needed. For now, there is cause for quiet optimism, with vaccination numbers growing, an easing of restrictions in sight, as well as the warmer, longer days of summer ahead.

References

  1. ^ National Child Health Poll (www.rchpoll.org.au)
  2. ^ Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (growingupinaustralia.gov.au)
  3. ^ AUSPLAY survey (www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au)
  4. ^ National Child Health Poll (www.rchpoll.org.au)
  5. ^ Unsplash/Thomas Park (unsplash.com)
  6. ^ CC BY (creativecommons.org)
  7. ^ parents (www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au)
  8. ^ AUSPLAY surveys (www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au)
  9. ^ who have taken on more (www.smh.com.au)
  10. ^ CC BY (creativecommons.org)
  11. ^ more exercise with their kids (www.rchpoll.org.au)
  12. ^ Kids at home because of coronavirus? Here are 4 ways to keep them happy (without resorting to Netflix) (theconversation.com)
  13. ^ negative health effects (cdnsciencepub.com)
  14. ^ early onset (journals.lww.com)
  15. ^ declines (bjsm.bmj.com)
  16. ^ Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  17. ^ From vaccination to ventilation: 5 ways to keep kids safe from COVID when schools reopen (theconversation.com)
  18. ^ reported (www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au)
  19. ^ slower pace (www.smh.com.au)
  20. ^ decades-long shift (www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au)
  21. ^ Kids' grip strength is improving, but other measures of muscle fitness are getting worse (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/kids-fitness-is-at-risk-while-they-miss-sport-and-hobbies-but-mums-are-getting-more-physical-167433

Times Magazine

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

The Times Features

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banque...

What Endo Took and What It Gave Me

From pain to purpose: how one woman turned endometriosis into a movement After years of misdiagnosis, hormone chaos, and major surgery, Jo Barry was done being dismissed. What beg...

Why Parents Must Break the Silence on Money and Start Teaching Financial Skills at Home

Australia’s financial literacy rates are in decline, and our kids are paying the price. Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator Sandra McGuire, who has over 20 years’ exp...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer experiences Sydney, Australia, 14 July 2025 – Qlik®, a g...