Physical activity is essential for your child’s physical development, emotional resilience, cognition and social development. In the teenage years, physical activity may be through organised sport, active travel, play, or incidental movement. 

• Physical activity all adds up to create happy, active kids with habits that will benefit them well into their older adulthood.
• When exercising, your child will likely lose fluids and electrolytes faster than they normally would.
• Therefore, fluids are essential to maintain hydration, especially on hot or humid days.

Fundamental movement skills 

The fundamental movement skills are basic movement patterns that assist your child in participating and mastering more complex physical and recreational activities. Children do not participate or master fundamental movement skills by themselves, naturally. They need to be intentionally taught by parents, teachers, coaches and role models in their lives.

In the teenage years, fundamental movement skills should largely be mastered. The more confident your child is in the fundamental movement skills, the more likely they are to be active and participate in sport and physical activity, both competitively and socially with friends. 

See Physical activity for more information.