Colman Noctor: What to do when your child wants to quit sport 

Is it a reluctance to leave the couch and smartphone or is there something about their particular sport or club that's making them less keen to participate?

Some children decide on a whim they don’t want to leave the comfort of their sofa and games console to head out into a cold rainy pitch  to run around doing drills

WITH darker evenings and colder weather, it can be difficult to maintain our motivation for physical activities with similar enthusiasm to the summer months. The mood dip occurring around this time of year is widespread, though the scientific jury is still out on seasonal affective disorder.

A notable trend in my appointment diary suggests that children and teenagers also struggle at this time of year. Maybe the novelty of returning to school after the summer has worn off, or Christmas tests are looming. Whatever the reason, there seems to be a collective struggle in late autumn.