Children should be tested on 'physical literacy', says doctor
The fitness regimes of Britain’s school children are being called into question by London-based sports physician Dr Andy Franklyn-Miller who is concerned about the levels of childhood obesity.Writing this week for the BBC’s Scrubbing Up column, the sports medicine expert expressed his belief that Britain is missing an opportunity to the use the forthcoming Olympic Games to inspire healthier behaviour in young children.
Although children are regularly tested and monitored by teachers in subjects such as English and Maths, physical education (PE) is an area where Dr Franklyn-Miller says participation is valued more than concrete results.
Consequently, he is calling for PE to be made more “competitive” and for exercise to become “a normal part of day-to-day life, not a weekly obligatory trip to the gym”.
NHS advice states that children aged five to 18 should spend at least one hour every day exercising vigorously enough to raise their heart rate and break sweat.
