EXERCISE or physical activity, is important for everybody, at every stage of life.

From 0 years right the way through to the elderly, incorporating enough physical activity into your day brings many benefits, improving your health, lowering risk of disease, improving emotional and physical well being and more.

Encouraging physical activity in youngsters is important, especially nowadays with so many electronic devices to distract children from play.

Many children would much prefer to sit and play on a computer or a games console rather than run around outside with a football.

Regular physical activity is an essential part of early childhood growth and development, helping with movement and coordination, building a healthy and strong body, developing self confidence, developing attention, learning, having fun and feeling happy.

For an infant or young child, it is recommended that they are physically active several times a day, not only for now, but teaching children good habits with regards to exercise and eating at an early age will make it easier for them to be a healthy adult.

Here are some ways to include physical activity into your child's day.

If your child is a toddler or infant then getting them to move won't be hard.

Encourage them to climb, push, swing and roll at play centres or parks, moves that they otherwise may not get chance to do.

If you use a pushchair for your child then allow them to walk some or all of the journey, let them investigate and explore when it's safe to do so.

School age children will have some physical activity structured into their school day, why not take them for a walk in the park at the weekend, this will also be good exercise for you both and give you some good quality time together.

You could even use your imagination and pretend to hunt for treasure or capture a bear.

See what interests your child, encourage them to try new sports or different activities.

Try enrolling them on short sports courses to see what they enjoy. You don't need to leave the house to get active, put some music on and get dancing.

To get in touch with Claire, follow her on Twitter @CLKpt or email ckopicki@me.com