Let children play in the snow, says GP

Date published: 08 January 2010

Parents should encourage their children to play out in the snow and enjoy fresh air and exercise but take sensible precautions to avoid injury, a leading GP has said.

Countrywide school closures mean thousands of children are missing out on PE lessons which, in some cases, can be their only source of exercise.

But rather than leaving their children sitting in front of a computer console, parents should use the appeal of sledging, snowman building and snowball fights to give their children a taste for the open air, said Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

He said: “For some children, the snow will give them their only exercise outside of PE and it might just give them the taste for playing out in the open air more often.

“As with any exercise, there is a risk of minor injury, usually broken bones from a fall on the ice or even a head injury while sledging.

“But generally this is a wonderful opportunity for children to get out and enjoy some exercise outdoors without any real danger.”