Activ8 is an initiative from Sport Northern Ireland promoting 8 steps for children to get active and stay healthy, which has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark.

Activ8 encourages children to take part in at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day and record their success in the Activ8 Diary distributed through participating primary schools in Northern Ireland.

Parents can also take part in the Activ8 Challenge by encouraging their family to get active by completing the Activ8 Diary on a weekly basis. Check out the 8 steps below to help your family get active. To find sports facilities in your area click here to visit the Active Places website.

Activ8 Steps

1. Move your body - you don't have to play a sport to get active. Any type of movement is good for you.

2. Be part of a team - by being part of a team you can make new friends, achieve new goals and have lots of fun. Check out the Wildcats Activ8 Clubs in your local area. By joining a Wildcats Activ8 Club you can learn new skills for sport, get active and have fun.

3. Create your own - why not create you own game. Make up your own rules for a game to play with friends.

4. Involve your Family - get your family active. Why not go for a walk, go cycling or play a family game in the garden or park.

5. Eat well - top athletes eat healthy to maintain a healthy body.

Sport Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Food Standards Agency, have developed another element which builds on the Activ8 programme – Activ8 Eatwell. This initiative targets 50 primary schools across Northern Ireland with the aim to combine the promotion of an active and healthy lifestyle by increasing children’s understanding of the relationship between physical activity, healthy eating and food hygiene.

To download an Activ8 Eatwell Diary click here, or

to download an Activ8 Eatwell Certificate click here

6. Go outdoors - walk to the shop or to school with your parents instead of taking the car.

7. Be a leader - don't wait for someone else to organise an activity - take charge by suggesting games and activities to you family or your friends.

8. Measure your success - use the Activ8 Diary to record your activities over a week.

Useful Links

Sport Northern Ireland
www.sportni.net

Active Places NI
www.sportni.net/activeplaces

Food Standards Agency

www.eatwell.gov.uk

Health Promotion Agency
www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk

Disability Sports Northern Ireland
www.dsni.co.uk

London 2012 Get Set
www.getset.london2012.com