Super Troopers, the new fitness programme for kids

IT’S homework, but not as we know it. More than 60,000 children from more than 300 primary schools around Ireland (and their parents) are treating the task of daily physical activity with the same importance as regular school homework.

Super Troopers is a Laya Healthcare initiative aimed at parents, teachers and four to 12-year-old children.

It purports to be Ireland’s first health homework programme and it aims to get kids doing their 60 minutes’ recommended daily exercise — currently four in five Irish children do less than this.

The 30-week programme features an easy-to-follow physical activity homework planner based on short-burst activities that capitalise on children’s imagination and sense of fun.

Designed by health and fitness experts, it’s hoped the mix of high-intensity, family-based exercise routines and tips on nutrition will help schoolchildren and parents form long-term healthier attitudes and behaviours.

Children are encouraged to spend 10-15 minutes doing each activity and parents are asked to sign off each activity at the end of the week, just as they would regular school work.

Super Troopers ambassador Brian Smyth, who has coached with Leinster Rugby’s Youth Programme, says something radical and thought-provoking was needed to break children and their parents out of their exercise complacency.

Pointing out that physical activity is key to developing children’s balance, stamina, speed, suppleness and strength, he did the Super Troopers programme with 35 children in fifth class at Dublin’s Rathmichael Primary School.

“Everyone got involved, doing skipping, hula-hooping, tug-of-war and short shuttle runs,” he says.

“Kids thrive when they’re exercising. Mentally, they improve much more than if they’re inside alone with a video game.”

Smyth says Super Troopers isn’t about winners or losers —children of all abilities can participate in the free programme.

“It’s great for shy kids, who sometimes mightn’t do as much exercise [as peers]. Being shy and feeling you’re not good at sport can stop you. But if you practice an exercise that’s not necessarily sport and get good at it, you feel ‘I’m good at this, maybe I can do more, maybe I can play a sport’,” says Smyth.

* More information is available on www.facebook.com/LayaHealthcare.

TOP TIPS

* Pre-activity, do a quick stretch — crouch down like frog, stand up tall, touch toes, knees, hips, shoulders, head, and finally reach up for the stars.

* Have fun helping with housework — how much vacuuming/ dusting can you get done in 10 minutes?

* Come up with your own 10 to 15 minute activity — you should feel your heart pumping faster when finished.

* Drink water while active. Have a bottle of water nearby and drink when you’re finished.