Staying active at school

We all know that keeping active is good for us, but with all the distractions offered by phones, gaming and computers, it can sometimes be hard to prise our kids off the couch and into activity. That’s why it’s great that schools in Scotland offer lots of different ways for children and young people to stay active and healthy for free, whatever their interests, abilities and fitness levels. Here you can find out more about what’s on offer, along with tips to help you encourage the kids to get active and save money on sport and activities.

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Why it's good to keep active

Taking part in school sport and physical activity has so many benefits for children and young people, like:

keeping them fit and healthy – of course!
improving their mental health
offering them an outlet from stress or any worries they may be facing
helping them make friends and find people who can listen to them and support them
boosting self-esteem and confidence
supporting brain development and improving focus and concentration
helping them learn skills like leadership, perseverance and team work
providing them with an environment where they can express themselves
finding something they enjoy, that makes them feel good.

Ways to keep active at school

There are lots of different ways your child can get involved in physical activity at school – they don’t need to be sporty or competitive to take part!

Active Schools

Active Schools provides all pupils with the opportunity to take part for free in sport and physical activity before school, during lunchtime, and after school, no matter their ability. It also provides connections between schools and local community clubs. From karate and taekwondo to dance and gymnastics, basketball and bowling to swimming and curling, you can find out what’s available in your area on the sportscotland website here.

Fit for Girls

Fit for Girls is a national programme that encourages girls and young women to get more involved in sport – whether that’s taking part in activities or helping create change in their school, club or community. You can find out more about Fit for Girls on the sportscotland website or through the school.

Young Ambassadors and Young People’s Sport Panel

Know someone who is particularly passionate about sport? They could consider becoming a Young Ambassador or applying to join the Young People’s Sport Panel.

Each year, two pupils from every secondary school in Scotland have the opportunity to be selected as Young Ambassadors to promote sport and motivate and inspire other young people to get involved in sport in their schools, clubs and local communities. You can find out more about the Young Ambassadors programme on the sportscotland website.

The Young People’s Sport Panel helps young people influence and shape the future of sport in Scotland and raise the profile of sport. You can find out more about the Young People’s Sport Panel on the sportscotland website.

Tips for saving money on sport

What with clothing, equipment and travel costs, you might think that taking part in sport and physical activity can be expensive. But there are lots of ways you can save money.

Tip #1: Check your local council website

As well as all the free sport and physical activity offered at school, your local council may offer free or discounted activities for children. Check out the links on our page about play parks and family activities to find out what’s on offer in your local area.

Tip #2: Remember kids can travel by bus for free

All young people and children aged 5-21 years can apply for a card to access the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel Scheme. You can find out more about the scheme and how to apply at freebus.scot.

Tip #3: Check for discounts with the Young Scot card

Young people can save lots of money with the free Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC) available to all 11 to 26-year-olds living in Scotland. This is the same card they can use for under 22's free bus travel. The card offers 1000s of discounts, including savings on bikes and outdoor equipment. Visit Young Scot to find out more.

Tip #4: Look for ‘pass it on’ schemes in your area

If your child needs kit for the sport they’ve chosen, their school may have a uniform ‘pass it on’ scheme, which can be a good place to pick up sports clothes too.

There may also be local ‘pass it on’ schemes or clothing banks in your area, for example in community centres or even shopping centres. Local Facebook groups are a great way to find out about these, and you can also find school clothing banks listed on the Connect website here.

Tip #5: Ask around for kit

Schools will often provide any equipment to support pupils' needs (like balls, rackets and hockey sticks) and many clubs also have ‘club kit’ your child can borrow. Other parents may also be selling, swapping or giving away equipment through their child’s club, and you can also check websites like Freecycle and Gumtree for anything going free.

Tips for encouraging your child to get involved in school sports

Tip #1: Focus on fun

Let them know that the most important thing about sport is having fun, and praise them for taking part and trying their best rather than winning. Your child may enjoy it more if they don’t feel under pressure to do well.

Tip #2: Encourage them to try different sports

Encourage them to try different activities until they find something that feels right. You could talk to them about what they liked and didn’t like about each activity, as this may help them find the right fit.

You could also have a think together about the things they enjoy doing and see if this helps them choose an activity. For example, if they like drawing and being creative they may like dance. If they like hanging out with friends they may enjoy a team sport.

Tip #3: Be a role model

Being active yourself will help your child see that movement and fitness are a normal part of daily life. You don’t have to take up marathon running or join a gym – how about suggesting some family walks, or trying a YouTube exercise video?

Tip #4: Get their friends involved

Kids often enjoy sport more when their friends are involved, so you could encourage them to pick an activity or a club with a pal, or join a friend who already does a sport or activity.

Tip #5: Celebrate sport at home

Watching major events like the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and football World Cup can be a great way of bringing the family together. This year is an exciting one for Scotland, as our football team has qualified for the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games are coming to Glasgow.

Here are some things you could do to get the whole family involved:

Ask everyone in the family to pick a sport and find out more about it, then tell the rest of the family about it while you’re watching – or even pretend to be the commentator!
Choose an international team to support and find out more about their country. You could get the kids to draw the country’s flag, and maybe even cook a traditional meal together.
Celebrate athletes who show resilience, kindness or teamwork during the events.
Talk about how the players or athletes may be feeling when they’re taking part – nervous? Excited? Focused?
Trying holding your own games in the house, garden or park. Instead of cycling, swimming or weightlifting you could have silly games like wheelbarrow races, egg and spoon races and welly throwing (although careful not to hit anyone!).