Overview
Exercise helps to build strong bones and muscles, helps to keep the heart and lungs healthy and improves fitness. It also has a positive impact on emotional and mental health, improves behaviour and concentration and helps children to sleep.
We have organised exercise ideas and opportunities by age range.
Early years (age 0-5)
Children and Family Hubs
Providing support and activities for babies and young children.
Activity providers
- Hackney Play Bus - play opportunities and support for families
Advice
- Your child's journey from birth to five years - resources and advice for important stages of a child's development including play activities
- Childcare - advice about eligibility for free childcare with local providers
Support for children with SEND
- Hackney Local Offer - directory of support and activities
- Hackney SENDIAGS - information and guidance to support to families
Key Stage 1 (age 5 to 7)
Adventure playgrounds
- Evergreen Play Adventure Playground
- Hackney Marsh Adventure Playground
- Homerton Grove Adventure Playground
- KIDS Adventure Playground - inclusive and accessible
- Pearson Street Adventure Playground
- Shoreditch Adventure Playground
- Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground
Support for children with SEND
- Hackney Local Offer - directory of support and activities
- Hackney SENDIAGS - information and guidance to support to families
- Hackney Integration Team (HIT Squad) - supports access to leisure activities for children with additional needs
Key Stage 2 (age 7 to 11)
Leisure centres
Green spaces and walks
- Abney Park Cemetery - self-guided walking tours around the cemetery
- Hackney Parks and Green Spaces - a list of the 58 parks, gardens and open spaces in Hackney
- Education Nature Park - resources to learn about and get into nature
- Hackney Wild Walks - three short walks around Hackney
Clubs and activities
- Adrenalin Dance - dance classes
- Aldersbrook Riding School - horse riding for beginners to more experienced riders
- Badu Sports - school sports programmes tailored to needs of children
- Castle Climbing - climbing centre in a Victorian water pumping station
- Education Nature Park - resources to help children get out in nature and learn
- Hackney Wick Football Club - football club and training
- Laburnham Boat Club - boat club and activities
- Leaside Trust - outdoor adventures
- Lee Valley Riding School - horse riding for beginners to more experienced riders
- Lee Valley Water Park - water based activities including white water rafting and kayaking
- Mile End Athletic Track, Sports Hall and Pool - athletics, swimming and other sporting activities
- National Centre for Circus Arts - learn circus skills such as juggling
- Pedro Youth Club - a variety of sport activities in Hackney
- Royal London Docks - watersports including rowing, sailing and kayaking
- Sadlers Wells - dance workshops and clubs
- Stronghold Climbing - climbing wall
- The Outrunners - inclusive running club
- We Make Footballers - football training session in Enfield
- West Reservoir - activities including kayaking and sailing
- Young Hackney - events and activities in Hackney
Support and inclusive activities for children with SEND
- Hackney Local Offer - directory of support and activities
- Hackney SENDIAGS - information and guidance to support to families
- Hackney Integration Team (HIT Squad) - supports access to leisure activities for children with additional needs
- Sense - sensory walks and activities
- Waltham Forest Feel Good Centre - trampolining