Children in Portobello joined in the launch of a nationwide campaign when they took part in a regular swimming lesson.

From Portobello Swim Centre, the young swimmers kicked off the Scottish Government’s Take Life On campaign, which is encouraging children to get at least 60 minutes of exercise each day.

While recent research showed that 70 per cent of children meet the minimum physical activity recommendations, the initiative highlights simple steps parents can take to help their children keep fit.

Take Life On was launched by Edinburgh GP Dr Andrew Murray, the Scottish Government’s Physical Activity champion, who became famous when he ran from John O’Groats to the Sahara Desert in 78 days.

He said: “We want to communicate a clear and simple message that activity is good for everyone, and it’s especially good for kids. We’re recommending that kids get at least 60 minutes of activity every single day.

“What that does is it improves quality of life, it can improve concentration at school and best of all it sets them up for the future health-wise. It prevents major health problems such as heart attacks, type two diabetes, depression and all sorts of other things. It’s probably the single best thing you can do for your kid.

“It doesn’t have to be swimming or running or cycling, although these things are all great, it can be hide and seek in the garden, playing at the play park and helping mum with the housework. The vast majority of opportunities out there are free and can actually be cost-saving, like walking to school rather than driving or cycling.”

Using a combination of advertising in the media as well as one-to-one and community information events, the £300,000 initiative complements a series of schemes put in place by the government.

Shona Robison, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport, said: “This year’s Take Life On Campaign highlights to parents simple changes they can make to their children’s life to get them increasingly active and reduce the likelihood of illness later in life.

“But we recognise there’s more we as a Government can do. That’s why we are investing in opportunities for young people to become more physically active in and around Scotland’s schools, such as the Active Schools Network, the delivery of 150 Community Sport Hubs across all local authorities by 2016, and action to help people make healthy life choices.

“And yesterday I announced an investment of £420,000 in the swimming Top Up programme, providing free swimming lessons for primary school children across Scotland focusing on deprived areas.”

Around 2500 children will benefit from the Top Up programme, which supports the improved delivery of swimming lessons.

The children at Portobello Swim Centre, however, were already well-acquainted with the water. Kyle McLaughlin, 6, said he really enjoyed swimming: “I go swimming every Saturday and I like swimming on my front best - I don’t need armbands,” he said. “I like football too though.” Kyle’s gran Anne McLaughlin said that it would be no bother to keep him active for an hour a day, adding: “It will be easy to achieve the 60 minutes. He enjoys the swimming and his parents make sure he does it because they want him to learn how to swim properly.”

Mac Campbell, 7, also gets his 60 minutes a day: “I’ve been doing a lot of sporty stuff in the holidays. I like playing badminton at home outside and I run around every break time.”

For more information on the health benefits of exercise, visit the STV Health Centre, brought to you by NHS inform.

IN DETAIL

Take Life On