Jumping, running and throwing: can your kids do these challenges?

Two-thirds of primary school-age children are falling below the recommended levels of fitness for their age group, research has warned.

A study of 10,000 5 to 11-year-olds found that 67% were unable to reach targets in jumping, running and throwing - while a quarter (24%) fell "significantly" below recommended levels, indicating that fitness is a cause for concern.

Fit For Sport, which conducted the tests, said the results show that parents and schools must do more to increase children's activity levels to ensure they stay healthy.

The youngsters were assessed by carrying out the Activity Challenge - a series of tests created to assess various factors of fitness including stamina, agility, co-ordination and cardiovascular endurance, to give a good indication of fitness and physical literacy.

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It found that only just over a third (36%) of 5 to 7-year-olds were at an adequate level of fitness, falling to 32% and 33% for 8-9 and 10-11-year-olds respectively.

Chief Medical Officer guidelines recommend that children spend 60 minutes a day being physically active - yet only 21% of boys and 16% of girls achieve this.

The lowest results were recorded in running challenges that test cardiovascular endurance, indicating that not only are many children getting too little physical activity, they are also failing to spend enough time doing vigorous intensity activity where they are out of breath and their heart rate increases.

Throw and catch challenge which requires good hand, eye co-ordination and some muscular endurance

5, 6 and 7yrs two handed bounce and catch

Using 2 hands and a medium sized ball, bounce the ball on the floor and catch the ball whilst standing on one spot as many times as you can (throw/catch doesn’t count if you don’t catch the ball with two hands)

8 and 9 year-olds Chest to wall throw and catch challenge

Stand 2 metres from the wall, throw a football against a wall and catch it using a two handed throwing and catching technique from your chest.

10 and 11 year olds Alternate hand throw and catch challenge

Stand 1.5 metres from the wall, throw a tennis ball against the wall with your right hand and catch it in your left and then throw with the left and catch it with the right, and so on.

Jumping challenge that requires rhythm, physical co-ordination and power

5, 6 and 7 years -olds star jump challenge

Start with legs together and arms by your side then jump so both legs and arms go out sideways together making the shape of a star before jumping back to your starting shape again, see how many star jumps you can do.

8 and 9 year olds two footed co-ordination jump challenge

Using two footed jumps, jump in each numbered square of the grid starting at number 1 and finishing in square 4. Repeat for 1 minute and 30 seconds.

10 and 11 year olds two footed bench hop challenge

Using a standard bench or chair, start with both hands holding onto the bench and both legs to the left hand side. See how many two footed jumps over the bench/chair you can do in 2 minutes.

Running which requires agility and cardio-vascular endurance

5, 6 and 7 year olds shuttle running challenge

Run between 2 cones / lines set 6 metres apart, each completed length earns 1 point.

8 and 9 year olds slalom running challenge

Run between 2 cones / lines (A & B) set 6 metres apart, see how many lengths you can do whilst running in an out of the cones between

10 and 11 year olds star running challenge

Run from the centre cone to each numbered cone/spot (1.5 metres) and back again in sequence (centre spot to 1 and back, centre spot to 2 and back, and so on).

Fit For Sport has created a free online portal where parents can complete the Activity Challenge with their own children and log on to submit scores and compare children's results with the recommended levels.