The lockdown period has had a positive effect on families’ sporting habits according to new research from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
The research, published by the ECB as it launches the new Dynamos Cricket app for kids, suggests that doing exercise during the lockdown period could help to form positive long-term sporting habits. Fifty-three per cent of parents are spending more time doing physical activities with their children than before the lockdown and 61% are planning to continue exercising as a family after lockdown.
Sixty one per cent of 500 parents with kids aged 8-15 say sport is helping the physical and mental wellbeing of their families whilst over half (54%) believe that doing sports and fitness with their children during lockdown has brought their family closer together.
The free app is for all kids aged eight and over and provides them with cricket skills, games and quizzes that they can do at home, without the need for a lot of space or equipment.
Many parents have been turning to digital solutions to help their kids keep active. Eighty five per cent of parents said that their child has increased their use of digital platforms to aid physical activity during lockdown.
The lockdown period has resulted in a third (30%) of parents having a more positive view of technology for their children than before. More than half (57%) of parents who held that view said that it was because technology had helped their children be more active, while 44% said that technology has shown their children different ways to exercise.
Nick Pryde, ECB Director of Participation and Growth said, “Sport is clearly providing families with some much-needed relief during lockdown. As restrictions begin to ease, we hope the app will help kids to have fun whilst picking up some cricket skills.
“We continue to follow government advice and we are doing our utmost to find a way to run the Dynamos Cricket programme as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Former England cricketer Ian Bell has been using the app to keep active with his kids during lockdown. Speaking about the app he said, “We’ve tried to be as active as possible with our kids during this period. It has been a challenge but spending quality time with them has been one of the real bright spots. The Dynamos app is a great way for us to keep active as a family and we’ve been having a lot of fun using it.”
Kids can learn lots of new skills using the new Dynamos app including batting, bowling and fielding. Skills videos and interactive quizzes provide ways to get active and keep the family entertained.
The app is part of the wider Dynamos Cricket programme that launched earlier this year for kids aged 8-11. The eight-week programme is aimed at those new to the game or those graduating from All Stars Cricket.
You can download the new Dynamos Cricket app for free on iOS and Android. For more information and updates on the programme visit www.dynamoscricket.co.uk.