Chloe Petterson Analyst Sport BOP

The World Health Organisation says childhood obesity is one of today's most serious public health challenges. Regular movement is one of the ways to turn this around.

A study by Auckland Council called ‘Kids in the City' measured how much time children spend on the move, and how much freedom they have to move around their neighbourhood.

‘Kids in the City' found children spent an average of 6.8 hours per day sitting still.

Children feel safest when close to home, and are frightened of various things in their neighbourhood, like stranger danger, fast traffic and scary dogs.

On top of this sedentary behaviour and lack of freedom to be on the move, the Australian Bureau of Statistics' study called ‘Square Eyes and Couch Potatoes' explored the time Australian children aged five-14 years spent on screen-based activities versus organised sport.

The study found children spent more time on all screen-based activities than on physical activity and organised sport – watching TV and DVDs, and other screen-based activities like video games.

These studies paint a picture that is hard to ignore. Compared to the golden days of our childhoods, our children are sitting around more, captivated by screens large and small – and are either afraid or not allowed to get out and about in their neighbourhoods.

So what can us as parents do about this?

I want my children to grow up healthy, active and with memories of an exciting childhood.

I'm guilty of using the big screen as a babysitter for my boys, and there are simple things I can start doing today:

• Switch off the TV, silence the screens, leave the phone at home, and get out there with my children.
• Toss a ball around, have a running race, go to the local park, hit the beach, go for a bike ride.
• Arrange to meet some friends at the hot pools. Choose a local walking track and get to it.

We are born to move, and it is never too late to start.

The more parents we have out in the community will surely have a good impact on some of those children's fears.

We can help our children become fit, healthy and agile, giving them confidence and boosting their energy, so they can enjoy all the wonderful benefits physical activity brings.

Chloe Petterson is an analyst for four Regional Sports Trusts, looking at trends in sport, recreation and health.