A Mile A Day Keeps The Doctor Away
In the UK, a new craze is taking schools by storm – and it’s not the latest trainers or a new gadget. Schools all over the UK are participating in ‘The Daily Mile’, encouraging children to get outside and walk, jog or run a mile every day. The children don’t get changed out of their uniform; there are no notable exceptions if it’s a bit rainy outside, and once finished, they go back to their desks for double maths and lunch.
According to their website, the aim of The Daily Mile is to improve the physical, social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of our children – regardless of age, ability or personal circumstances. It is a very simple but effective concept, which any primary school can implement free of charge and without the need for staff training. Its impact can be transformational – improving not only children’s fitness but also their concentration levels, mood, behaviour and general wellbeing.
The concept is the brainchild of Elaine Whyllie, the former principal at St. Ninians Primary School in Stirling, Scotland. She implemented the daily mile at her school after learning from teachers that students struggled to complete a lap at a nearby sports field (roughly a mile in length).
For decades, research has shown that the optimum school day should consist of two-thirds classroom time, one-third physical activity and no homework. In addition, active learning should be embraced; that means, for example, teaching kids to count by skipping and learning geography by going for a hike. Despite this research, we still make the fundamental mistake of thinking that more classroom time and more study give better results. The reality is that active kids are primed for learning, and literacy and numeracy are bolstered by physical activity and play.
As a nation, we are catastrophically failing to ensure our children are moving around enough. Government guidelines recommend that children get one hour of exercise a day, but unless children play a sport or have PE on that day, they often fail to hit that target. When we drive our kids to school, sit them on their butts all day, then drive them home again to sit more to do homework and then stare at screens, we have essentially created the ideal conditions for a significant health problem. We have, by engineering activity out of our kids’ daily lives, allowed obesity to flourish. While the Daily Mile usually only takes around 15-25 minutes, it is at least a small step in the right direction towards children getting more exercise.
With people like Jamie Oliver bringing childhood obesity into the spotlight at the moment, we have all been reading about how the UK is in the middle of an obesity epidemic. The data shows that almost a third of children aged 2 to 15 are overweight or obese and are now more likely to live a shorter life than their parents. But we must remember amidst all this that the causes of obesity are multifactorial, and while fizzy drinks and ultra-processed foods are responsible for some of these statistics, a lack of exercise is also very much to blame.
Children in the UK are simply not getting enough exercise, and the knock-on effect is hurting their mental health as well. Along with childhood obesity, childhood mental health issues are also on the rise in the UK, with one in ten children suffering from mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
Doing the Daily Mile doesn’t just improve fitness, but it also has a positive impact on children’s concentration and mental well-being. With all the time young people spend in front of screens, kids’ attention spans are at an all-time low. By taking a break from the classroom to go outdoors and exercise, the children come back feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on whatever challenge they may face – whether it be a difficult maths equation or playground drama. Children experience a release of endorphins from exercising, which boosts their mood and allows them to think more clearly.
According to Dr Richard Bailey, International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education, “physically active children and young people perform better academically than their inactive peers and those who are most active benefit the most.” But also, just completing the task has a positive impact on the children. What felt like a colossal task just four weeks ago will now become light work – or, at the very least, a little easier. Those children who were once trailing behind should now be able to take on a jog; the joggers become runners, and the runners try to run as far as they can. This sense of achievement is so important, as it teaches kids the importance of perseverance and that hard work does pay off.
It may not seem like a lot, but The Daily Mile is just one of the ways we can begin to target childhood obesity and improve the lives of young people. If you struggle to incorporate exercise into your or your child’s life, need help creating a balanced diet, or just need some guidance towards living a healthier lifestyle, I’m here to help. Click here to arrange a free 15-minute chat.
For more information, check out www.thedailymile.co.uk and if not already, get your school involved.
Find out more about Jamie Oliver’s #AdEnough campaign here www.jamieoliver.com/adenough/
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