WITH the holidays upon us, and longer, lighter days, now is the perfect time for adults and children to get into a summer routine of being active daily.

Whether being outside in nature or moving more indoors, staying active as a family or with a group of friends can be a great way to spend time together and improve mental wellbeing at the same time.

To help achieve this, Active Devon has launched a free summer challenge, Let’s Move, encouraging everyone to be active for a minimum of 26 minutes daily during August.

Any activity counts such as skipping, walking the dog, scavenger hunt, dancing, cycling, swimming or gardening.

People who register can create a team and are offered a free app to log what activity they’ve done, when they did it and how it made them feel.

They can also share their progress and motivational tips with others in the Let’s Move community.

Vicky Radcliffe from Active Devon said: “Children and young people, (five to 18 years)* should be taking part in an average of 60 minutes or more of moderate or vigorous physical activity daily and the summer holiday break can sometimes cause a disruption to this routine.

"August could be a perfect time for family and friends to get together and take part in new activities to help everyone move more.

“This challenge is only open for people across Devon, and we will share new suggestions for daily movement – helping those who are not sure what to do with some great ideas to encourage walking, wheeling and cycling as well as other activities.

"We live in an amazing county with two national parks and two coastlines, rural areas and cities, so there are plenty of opportunities to try something new together.

"One fun way to tell if you’ve reached a moderate intensity activity level is if you can still talk while you’re taking part in the activity but can’t sing – that’s the big test to make sure you’re moving enough!”

The Let’s Move challenge runs until August 31, and anyone 18 or over can register for the app.

There will be daily ideas for how to move and prizes to be won. To download the free BuddyBoost app and follow the instructions go to the Let’s Move Free Summer Challenge page: https://buddyboost.ac-page.com/LetsMove2023 .

Vicky adds: “Taking part in 26 minutes of activity everyday can also boost your mood, so moving together as a family or group of friends can really make your summer one to remember – and you could feel healthier as a result."

*Chief Medical Officer Physical Activity Guidelines for Children and Young People (5-18 Years)

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Early Years (Under 5s) is to aim for at least 180 minutes a day.