Why bodies need movement — Health, 7–10 years
Moving makes muscles, bones, heart and lungs work together. Regular activity supports health and skills, while different kinds of movement help the body in different ways.
Movement is body practice
Physical activity is any movement that makes your body use energy, from walking and dancing to climbing or playing tag. It trains the body to move, balance, push, pull and keep going.
Why move regularly?
Bodies adapt to what they practise. Regular movement helps the heart and lungs deliver oxygen, keeps muscles and bones working, and builds coordination; sitting still for long periods gives them less practice.
One active afternoon
Sam walks 15 minutes to the park, climbs for 10 minutes and plays football for 25 minutes. That is 50 minutes of movement, with walking for endurance, climbing for strength and football for speed and coordination.
Exercise is not only sport
Some people think movement only counts if it happens in a team or at a gym. That idea is understandable because sport is easy to notice, but walking, active games, carrying things and dancing also use the body.
Movement in daily life
Movement appears in ordinary choices: walking part of a journey, taking stairs, playing outside or helping in the garden. It can also build useful skills for cycling, carrying a bag, catching a ball or crossing safely.
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