Getting children active is so important, but finding a sport or activity they genuinely enjoy isn't always as easy as it sounds!
Some children seem to find their favourite sport straight away, while others need a little more encouragement and a few different experiences before discovering what they love.
And that's certainly been the case in our house!
Liam loves his football and plays every Sunday and Tuesday, while Jacob has swimming lessons every Monday.
Lewis, on the other hand, has been a little trickier when it comes to finding a sport he wants to stick with.
He's a fairly active child and loves getting out on his bike with his mates, but organised sports clubs have never really been his thing.
Over the years, we've tried judo, swimming, rugby and even horse riding, but nothing has quite captured his interest enough for him to carry on.
So, when we were invited along to try Virgin Active's Active Crew, I jumped at the chance.
And, thankfully, Lewis was keen to give it a go too!
What Is Virgin Active Active Crew?
Active Crew was introduced by Virgin Active as an after-school fitness programme designed to encourage children to get moving, build confidence and develop healthy habits in a fun and enjoyable way.
Rather than focusing on one particular sport, the sessions combine different activities to help children improve their fitness, coordination, balance and movement skills.
The idea is to make exercise feel more like play, which I think is brilliant.
After all, children are much more likely to enjoy being active when they're having fun rather than feeling as though they're being made to exercise.
The programme was developed by Virgin Active alongside specialists in children's movement and development, bringing together a mixture of exciting activities, challenges and team games.
Our Experience of Virgin Active Active Crew
We went along for an introductory session at the weekend, and I have to say, we were really impressed!
Both Lewis and Taylor took part, and from the start, the session was full of energy, laughter and plenty of movement.
What I particularly liked was how interactive everything was.
There wasn't much standing around waiting for a turn. The children were encouraged to get involved, try different challenges and work together.
It was lovely seeing everyone enjoying themselves while getting a good workout without really thinking about it.
And for Lewis, who hasn't always been keen on organised sports, that was a big plus!
What Activities Do Children Try at Active Crew?
The Active Crew sessions included a mixture of activities designed to improve strength, speed, coordination and confidence.
Two of the main elements were ZUU and SAQ training.
ZUU – Moving Like Animals!
This was such a fun idea!
ZUU encourages children to use natural, animal-inspired movements, such as moving like a gorilla, bear, frog or iguana.
It might sound a little unusual, but that's part of what makes it so enjoyable.
The children get to crawl, jump, stretch and move in all sorts of different ways, helping them build strength and improve their overall fitness.
The sessions also incorporated equipment such as Sandbells, ViPR, TRX and Fitlights to make the activities even more interesting.
What I loved was that it didn't feel like a traditional exercise class.
The children were simply having fun, taking on challenges and trying out new movements.
And that's exactly how it should be!
SAQ – Speed, Agility and Quickness
Another part of the programme focused on SAQ training, which stands for Speed, Agility and Quickness.
These activities help children develop important movement skills, including running, jumping, catching and throwing.
They also encourage better balance, coordination and confidence.
SAQ training has been used in professional sport, including football and tennis, but the Active Crew sessions adapted the activities to make them suitable and enjoyable for children.
I thought this was a great addition, particularly for children who might not be interested in joining a traditional sports team.
They still get the opportunity to develop useful skills while having fun with other children.
What Did Lewis and Taylor Think?
Well, I think it's safe to say they both had a brilliant time!
The session was full of fun challenges, teamwork and plenty of encouragement.
There was a lovely team atmosphere, with the children cheering each other on and getting involved in the different activities.
It wasn't all about being the fastest or the strongest. Everyone was encouraged to have a go, which I really liked.
Both Lewis and Taylor came away with nothing but positive things to say.
And, even better, they were both interested in going back!
For me, that was probably the biggest success of the day.
After trying so many different sports with Lewis over the years, it was lovely to find something he genuinely seemed to enjoy.
Why I Think Programmes Like Active Crew Are a Great Idea
We all know how important it is for children to stay active, but I think it's equally important to remember that not every child enjoys traditional sports.
Some love football, swimming or rugby, while others prefer riding their bikes, dancing, climbing or simply running around with their friends.
And that's absolutely fine!
The important thing is finding something they enjoy and want to keep doing.
That's what appealed to me about Active Crew.
It offered a mixture of different activities rather than concentrating on just one sport, giving children the chance to try something new without feeling too much pressure.
It was also a lovely opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills and enjoy being part of a group.
Virgin Active Active Crew – Ages, Prices and Availability
At the time of our visit, Virgin Active was preparing to launch Active Crew more widely across its UK clubs in January.
The after-school programme was designed for children aged 8–16 and ran during term time.
Prices were advertised at between £77 and £135, depending on the programme, with an additional club membership costing £15 per month.
These were the prices and arrangements when we attended our introductory session, so they shouldn't be taken as current availability or pricing.
For information about children's activities currently offered, you can visit the Virgin Active website.
Our Final Thoughts on Virgin Active Active Crew
Overall, we were really impressed with our Active Crew experience.
The session was energetic, engaging and, most importantly, lots of fun!
Both Lewis and Taylor thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and I loved seeing how the activities encouraged teamwork, confidence and movement without making exercise feel like a chore.
For children who haven't quite found their favourite sport, I think this type of activity can be a lovely alternative.
And after years of trying to find a club that Lewis would enjoy, it was particularly encouraging to see him having such a good time.
Whether he'll eventually find a sport he wants to stick with remains to be seen, but Active Crew certainly got a thumbs-up from us!
Do your children enjoy organised sports, or do they prefer keeping active in their own way? I'd love to hear what activities they've tried!
This is an updated version of our original Virgin Active Active Crew review. We were invited to attend an introductory session. Programme details, prices and availability relate to the time of our visit and may have changed.
If you're looking for a simple game that gets the whole family talking, laughing, and occasionally debating some very silly questions, then the Would You Rather Family Edition Game is definitely worth considering.
As a family, we are always on the lookout for games that don't take ages to set up and that everyone can join in with, regardless of age. Between busy family life, health challenges, and trying to find activities that don't involve another screen, this game has become one of those easy go-to options that we can pull out whenever we fancy spending some time together.