Engaging extracurricular activities for children, from sports and arts to hobbies and creative pursuits, designed to build confidence, skills, teamwork and creativity.
Research suggests structured football warm-ups can cut injuries by up to 46 per cent, making balance, strength and controlled movement more valuable than stretching alone. For many youth football teams, the opening minutes of practice still follow a familiar script:…
A study of more than 10,000 Chinese adolescents found that those in the lowest fitness group were substantially more likely to report depressive symptoms, although the research cannot establish cause and effect. A large study of more than 10,000 Chinese…
Research suggests that the cumulative force and frequency of head impacts, including those that cause no diagnosed concussion, may be central to the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in young athletes. Parents trying to weigh the promise of sport against…
Johns Hopkins researchers are calling for a statewide requirement for at least 20 minutes of daily recess, including for middle and high school pupils. Recess should be treated as a basic part of the school day, not an optional extra,…
The World Health Organization’s first global guidance on childhood obesity prioritises family-led nutrition, activity and behaviour programmes, while limiting medicines and surgery for older adolescents. The World Health Organization has issued its first global guidance on obesity in children and…
A pooled analysis of nearly 13,000 young people found that moderate-to-vigorous activity was linked to modest improvements in insulin and cholesterol markers, while effects on weight and blood pressure were less clear. A large pooled analysis of children and adolescents…
Studies suggest knitting, gardening, music and other creative pursuits can support wellbeing, while researchers caution that the evidence remains limited and uneven. Researchers are taking a closer look at what people do when they step away from screens, and the…
As the European Commission moves to restrict social media access for younger children, a psychologist says parents should frame the rules as protection rather than punishment. For many families in Europe, the debate over children’s screen time is about to…
Cardiovascular fitness can improve within weeks, but tendons and bones take much longer to adapt, leaving novice runners vulnerable to overuse injuries. For many runners, the appeal is obvious: it is cheap, simple and can be done almost anywhere. Yet…
A study of nearly 8,800 pupils in south-west China links daily outdoor activity with lower odds of short-sightedness, while prolonged screen use and insufficient sleep are associated with higher risk. A new study from south-west China suggests that the way…
A small Tunis study found that adding short mindfulness and self-regulation exercises to PE lessons was associated with lower self-reported aggression and impulsivity, but researchers say larger trials are needed. A small study in Tunis suggests that a brief mindfulness-based…
Research is challenging the blanket warning against exercising after work, suggesting that workout intensity, timing and individual sensitivity matter more than the clock. The old warning against evening exercise is looking increasingly shaky. For many people, a workout after work…
