Celebrating 50 Years of Play: Why Childhood Still Thrives Beyond the Screen

Half a century ago, childhood was filled with climbing trees, building dens, making up games and spending hours outdoors with friends. 

While today's children are growing up in a far more digital world, one thing hasn't changed, their need to play, explore and connect with others.

As Gymboree Play & Music celebrates its 50th anniversary, families across the UK are proving that learning through play remains every bit as valuable today as it was five decades ago.

With increasing concern about children's screen time and studies suggesting parents are spending less time playing with their young children, many families are rediscovering the joy of setting aside dedicated time to laugh, move and learn together.

Across the country, Gymboree Play & Music has become much more than a weekly activity. For many, it has become part of their family's story, creating memories that span generations.

In Hampstead, Zakiyah now takes her 11-month-old son, Hadid, to the very same Gymboree Play & Music centre where she attended classes as a child while her mother taught there. She fondly remembers birthday celebrations, name stickers and the excitement of every session, and is delighted that her son can now experience those same moments of discovery and fun.

Families like Emma and Chris Penn from Solihull have brought all four of their children to classes over more than a decade. They say the sessions have provided invaluable opportunities to spend quality time together while helping each child develop confidence, curiosity and creativity.

The tradition even extends across generations. Jane Goldstein first attended Gymboree Play & Music with her twins and now enjoys watching her grandson Robin experience the same sense of adventure and learning. For her, seeing a new generation benefit from play is both heart-warming and reassuring.

Long-time nanny Melanie Wenham has introduced countless children to Gymboree Play & Music over more than twenty years. She believes the welcoming atmosphere, caring instructors and focus on child development have remained wonderfully consistent, with many of the children she once accompanied still remembering their "Gymbo days" well into adulthood.

These stories offer an uplifting reminder that while technology has transformed modern childhood, the foundations of healthy development remain remarkably familiar. Children still flourish when they can move, imagine, solve problems, build friendships and share joyful experiences with the important adults in their lives.

As Gymboree Play & Music marks its golden anniversary with celebrations across the UK featuring its much-loved mascot Gymbo, the message is clear: screens may have become part of everyday life, but play continues to be one of childhood's greatest gifts.

Fifty years on, the power of play is still helping children grow into confident, curious and happy young people, and that's something well worth celebrating.

https://gymbo.co.uk

Harry Kane and Sporting Heroes Inspire a New Generation to Get Moving

Families are gathering around televisions, children are recreating famous goals in parks and playgrounds, and conversations about football are bringing people of all ages together. 

But beyond the excitement of the tournament lies something even more important, the power of sport to inspire healthier, happier lives.

New research commissioned by the Youth Sport Trust has revealed which British sporting heroes parents believe have the greatest influence on encouraging children to be active. The findings highlight the enormous impact role models can have in motivating young people to embrace exercise, develop confidence and build healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

Football continues to dominate as the sport that captures young imaginations. Parents named David Beckham, Marcus Rashford, Sir Mo Farah, Harry Kane and Anthony Joshua as the five male athletes who most inspire children. Among female sporting icons, Chloe Kelly, Leah Williamson, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Keely Hodgkinson and Lucy Bronze topped the list.

England stars including Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice also featured prominently, reflecting the influence today's players have both on and off the pitch.

The survey comes as National School Sports Week, powered by Sports Direct and Everlast, celebrates the many ways sport can transform lives. More than 2,600 schools across the UK have taken part, encouraging children to enjoy physical activity while highlighting the benefits that extend far beyond fitness.

Sport helps young people develop resilience, teamwork, communication skills and self-belief. It creates friendships, strengthens communities and provides a sense of belonging that is especially valuable in today's increasingly digital world.

Youth Sport Trust CEO Ali Oliver MBE believes this summer presents a unique opportunity to encourage every child to become active. She told That's Health: "watching elite athletes perform on the biggest stages can spark a belief that anything is possible, while everyday opportunities to play with friends remain just as important in helping children discover the joy of movement."

National School Sports Week champion Sir Mo Farah echoed that message, saying sport gave him confidence, determination and the belief that he could achieve more than he ever imagined. He hopes every child can experience those same benefits through sport and physical activity.

The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend that children and young people take part in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Whether inspired by Harry Kane scoring for England, Chloe Kelly celebrating a goal, or simply enjoying a game with friends after school, every kick of a football, every run around the playground and every sporting challenge helps build stronger bodies, healthier minds and brighter futures.

This remarkable summer of sport reminds us that inspiration doesn't only come from lifting trophies. Sometimes it begins with one child watching a sporting hero and believing, "I could do that too."

https://www.youthsporttrust.org

Declan Rice's Illness Highlights the Importance of Rest After Viral Infections

Declan Rice's determination has reignited discussion about post-viral illness, M.E. and why adequate rest during recovery could help prevent long-term health complications.

England midfielder Declan Rice, still recovering from a virus, played 45 minutes in 33+ degree heat during the Quarter Final match against Norway on Saturday night. 

Fans noted he was clearly struggling and wished him well on social media. 

His commitment was widely praised, but for people living with post-viral illness and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), the moment was deeply concerning.

When a national figure pushes through illness in extreme conditions, it reinforces a powerful cultural message: that exertion during or after viral infection is harmless, even admirable. For many people, it is not. For some, it leads to lifelong disability.

This moment exposes a critical failure in UK public health communication, specifically the Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity guidance, published on Friday, which encourages staying active but does not include clear caveats about post-viral instability, risk, or Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). Without these caveats, the public is left with dangerously incomplete advice.

One of the most damaging myths surrounding M.E. is that it affects only certain types of people. In reality, M.E. can strike anyone:

children and adults

men and women

people of every racial and ethnic background

elite athletes and people with sedentary lifestyles alike

Sally Callow, (PICTURED) Founder of social enterprise ME Foggy Dog, told THat's Health: “Viruses don’t care who you are, what you do for a living, or how fit you might be. You’re not being tough by fighting back against an infection, you’re putting yourself at risk. 

"The best chance anyone has of a full recovery, or of avoiding worsened long‑term complications, is to rest far more than they think they need. That message must be made clear to the public.” 

Physical fitness does not protect against post-viral illness. Many hundreds of thousands of people in the UK developed M.E. after “pushing through” viral infections, unaware of the risks. We sincerely hope Declan Rice makes a full recovery despite overexerting while still symptomatic. Many others did not.

Across the M.E. community, people describe remarkably similar experiences. Before diagnosis, they did not know what PEM was, did not realise everyday activities counted as exertion, and did not understand that rest was protective. Many assumed exertion meant only sport or exercise, not showering, commuting, studying, or housework. They followed general public health advice, usually offered by healthcare professionals, to stay active, unaware that it could worsen their condition.

These stories are not isolated. They are representative of the wider M.E. community, which has been consistently harmed by missing public health caveats.

People who meet diagnostic criteria for M.E. but remain undiagnosed are extremely difficult to reach. They are not in specialist clinics or patient groups. They are not reading M.E.-specific resources. They are simply trying to recover from a virus, following general public health advice, advice that currently lacks the clear, publicly communicated, caveats they urgently need.

This is precisely why an official public messaging campaign is essential. Without it, misinformation spreads easily. Harmful “push through it” narratives dominate. People unknowingly worsen their condition. Early intervention opportunities are lost and preventable disability becomes common.

The absence of clear, authoritative messaging creates a vacuum, and that vacuum is filled with confusion, contradictory advice, and cultural pressure to stay active at all costs.

The UK Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity guidance promotes movement and activity,  but without any publicly communicated caveats about post-viral illness, PEM, or the risks of exertion during recovery. This omission leaves the public vulnerable.

Victorian-era public health campaigns understood something modern messaging has forgotten: rest is medicine. Rest is a legitimate, evidence-based intervention during and after viral illness.

The public needs clear, accessible information about PEM, a delayed worsening of symptoms 24 to 72 hours after physical, cognitive, or emotional exertion. PEM is not normal tiredness; it is a pathological response. Everyday activities count as exertion. Stepping back from life early can mean the difference between recovery and lifelong disability.

This is not specialist or niche medical knowledge; it is fundamental public health information that must be embedded in national guidance. At present, an estimated 1.3 million people in the UK meet the diagnostic criteria for M.E., and every one of them experiences Post‑Exertional Malaise. Yet many remain unaware of what PEM is or how it affects them, largely because gaps in clinical understanding mean their GPs have never explained it.

In the absence of clear caveats from the UK’s Chief Medical Officers, the public is left with dangerously incomplete guidance. 

A national public health campaign is urgently needed, one that explains post-viral illness and PEM in simple terms, emphasises the benefits of rest, teaches people to recognise early warning signs, challenges harmful cultural narratives about “pushing through,” and ensures that healthcare professionals and the public understand that overexertion can cause long-term harm. 

Crucially, such a campaign must reach undiagnosed people, who are currently invisible to the system and at greatest risk.

This campaign must be as visible and culturally embedded as Victorian-era rest messaging,  because the stakes are just as high.

When a national hero plays through illness in extreme heat, millions see it as strength. But for those at risk of post-viral illness, it models behaviour that can lead to permanent disability.

We cannot continue to celebrate endurance while ignoring the science of post-viral harm.

The UK needs a public health messaging overhaul, one that protects people, prevents avoidable disability, and ensures that no one loses their health simply because they were never told to rest.

http://www.mefoggydog.org

Cor Hutton's 3,000-Mile Charity Drive Inspires Hope for Scotland's Amputees

Cor Hutton, founder of Finding Your Feet, is driving 3,000 miles across Europe in a 19-year-old Audi TT to raise funds for Scotland's amputee community. An inspiring story of courage, resilience and hope.

Some journeys are measured in miles. Others are measured in courage.

This August, Scottish charity founder Cor Hutton will embark on an extraordinary 3,000-mile drive from Glasgow to Nice and back in a 19-year-old Audi TT with more than 120,000 miles on the clock. On the surface, it may sound like a quirky motoring adventure, but for Cor, every mile represents hope for people rebuilding their lives after limb loss.

Cor's own life changed forever when sepsis claimed both of her hands and both of her feet. While her family surrounded her with love and support, she discovered there was no community that truly understood the emotional and practical challenges she faced. Rather than accept that gap, she created one herself.

Finding Your Feet is now Scotland's only nationwide charity dedicated to supporting amputees, people born without limbs and their families. Through peer support, counselling, wellbeing services and inclusive activities, it has become a lifeline for countless people navigating life after limb loss.

Cor is no stranger to extraordinary achievements. She has previously conquered Mount Kilimanjaro, Ben Nevis and the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Following a kidney transplant in 2024, and living with two prosthetic legs, two transplanted hands and just one-third of a lung, mountain climbing is no longer possible. Instead, she has chosen a challenge that reflects her determination just as powerfully.

Accompanied by her friend Evie Jackson, her son Rory, who will celebrate his 18th birthday during the trip, and a small convoy of supporters, Cor will tackle one of Europe's most iconic driving routes. Highlights include the breathtaking Stelvio Pass in the Italian Alps with its famous 48 hairpin bends, the Monaco Grand Prix circuit and the stunning Côte d'Azur before reaching Nice.

Speaking about the challenge, Cor admitted she is both excited and anxious.

She worries about the reliability of her beloved ageing convertible, the physical demands of driving up to ten hours a day and whether enough money will be raised to secure another year of support for the charity's members.

"For many, we're the only support they have," she told That's Health. "There's the motivation, right there."

Joining the rally is fellow Finding Your Feet volunteer Babs Poole from Dundee, a double above-knee amputee who hopes her participation will inspire others never to let disability define them.

"We will not be defined as amputees in chairs," Babs said. "I will push every boundary and live life to the full."

The convoy leaves Linwood on 11 August before joining the official Two Ball Banger Rally through ten countries, returning to Scotland on 21 August.

Cor's remarkable journey is about far more than reaching the finish line. It is a moving reminder that even after life's greatest setbacks, compassion, resilience and community can help people discover new beginnings. Every mile travelled helps ensure that Finding Your Feet can continue offering hope to those who need it most.

To support Cor's fundraising challenge or learn more about Finding Your Feet, visit findingyourfeet.net

Liver Disease Often Develops Silently. New Survey Reveals Alarming Lack of Public Awareness

Only 9% of people actively monitor their liver health despite liver disease being one of the leading causes of premature death in working-age adults, new Liver UK research reveals.

Liver disease is one of the UK's fastest-growing health concerns, yet a new survey suggests it remains largely overlooked by the public.

New research commissioned by Liver UK, the charity formed through the merger of the British Liver Trust and Children's Liver Disease Foundation, has found that only 9% of people actively think about or monitor their liver health. That is despite liver disease being one of the leading causes of premature death among working-age adults.

When 2,000 UK adults were asked to name the three health conditions they worry about most, cancer, heart disease, stroke and mental health dominated the list. Liver disease barely registered, even though it claimed over 12,300 lives across the UK in 2023. According to the latest Office for National Statistics figures, it is now the second biggest killer of people under 65 in England and Wales.

Unlike many serious illnesses that become more common with age, liver disease frequently affects people during their working years. Premature deaths from liver disease in England have risen by 42% since 2001, making it one of the few major diseases where mortality continues to increase rather than decline.

The survey also uncovered several worrying misconceptions about liver disease. One in three people incorrectly believe it is caused only by alcohol, while one in five think babies and children cannot develop liver disease. More than half of those questioned were unaware that liver disease can develop without causing any symptoms during its early stages.

That lack of awareness is particularly concerning because liver disease often progresses silently. Many people feel perfectly well until significant, and sometimes irreversible, damage has already occurred. Experts estimate that around three-quarters of patients receive their diagnosis only when opportunities for effective treatment have become much more limited.

Pamela Healy, Chief Executive of Liver UK, said the survey highlights not only a lack of understanding, but also a lack of recognition that liver disease is a major public health issue.

She told That's Health that too many families continue to experience avoidable heartbreak because the condition is detected far too late, and called on both the Government and the NHS to place greater emphasis on prevention, earlier diagnosis and improved access to care.

One family knows that heartbreak all too well.

Sara Harding lost her father, Stephen, at the age of 62, only months after he was diagnosed with advanced liver disease. Although he had previously been told he had a fatty liver, the family never realised how serious the condition could become.

Sara hopes that by sharing her father's story, more people will understand that liver disease can progress quietly for years and that knowing your personal risk factors is just as important as recognising symptoms.

For many people, simple lifestyle changes, routine health checks and earlier investigation of risk factors could make a life-changing difference. Liver disease is not always preventable, but earlier diagnosis gives the best chance of slowing or even reversing damage before it becomes irreversible.

Greater awareness today could help save lives tomorrow.

www.liveruk.org

Sun, Sea, Surgery and Sepsis? Britons Warned Over Cosmetic Surgery Abroad as Major Study Reveals Serious Complications

Anyone considering travelling overseas for cosmetic surgery is being urged to think carefully after a major UK study revealed that complications from procedures carried out abroad are placing a growing burden on both patients and the NHS.

The research, conducted by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), is the largest UK study of its kind and analysed 198 cases of people who required treatment after returning home from cosmetic surgery overseas. 

The findings highlight the potentially serious consequences of chasing lower-cost procedures without fully understanding the risks involved.

According to the study, nearly three-quarters of patients required further medical treatment or surgery once back in the UK, while almost half needed corrective operations under general anaesthetic. The complications ranged from severe infections and wounds reopening to tissue death and fluid build-up requiring repeated treatment. Tragically, one patient died after suffering a pulmonary embolism.

The majority of complications followed procedures carried out in Turkey, accounting for 76% of the cases studied. Women represented 93% of patients, with an average age of just 39. Tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) were the most common procedure associated with complications, while many patients had undergone several major cosmetic operations during the same trip abroad.

The study found 37% of patients experienced wounds that failed to heal properly, 28% developed infections, 24% suffered fluid collections known as seromas, and 20% experienced tissue necrosis, where skin or fat dies due to poor blood supply.

BAAPS believes several factors are contributing to the growing problem. These include the popularity of social media advertising, influencer endorsements and all-inclusive cosmetic surgery holiday packages, which often focus on low prices while paying less attention to the realities of recovery and aftercare.

Surgeons treating returning patients reported concerns including inadequate follow-up care, patients being accepted for surgery despite significant health risks, multiple complex procedures being performed during one operation, and people flying home before it was medically advisable.

The financial impact is also significant. BAAPS estimates that treating these complications has already cost the NHS between £1.2 million and £1.8 million, although the true figure is likely to be much higher because many cases are treated by emergency departments, GPs and other hospital specialties without being included in the association's database.

BAAPS President Nora Nugent warned that cosmetic surgery should never be viewed as a holiday activity.

She told That's Health that while overseas clinics often promote luxury hotels, attractive prices and impressive before-and-after photographs, they rarely show the patients who return home with serious infections, open wounds or life-threatening complications.

The association stresses that many overseas surgeons provide excellent care and that millions of cosmetic procedures are performed safely around the world each year. 

However, anyone considering travelling abroad should thoroughly research their surgeon, verify professional accreditation, understand exactly what aftercare will be available, ensure they are medically fit for surgery and avoid making decisions based on price alone.

BAAPS is calling for greater public awareness, tighter regulation of overseas cosmetic surgery advertising, improved monitoring of complications within the NHS and consideration of compulsory complication insurance for patients travelling abroad for cosmetic procedures.

As the study concludes, what appears to be a bargain operation can quickly become a very costly complication, both for the patient and for the health service.

To learn more visit baaps.org.uk

That's Health will also be covering the risks of travelling overseas for dental work in the near future.

National Recognition for Kentown Support’s Collaborative Approach to Children’s Palliative Care

Kentown Support has been recognised for its pioneering approach to children's palliative care after winning the Partnership Working Across Health and Social Care Award at the 2026 Palliative and End of Life Care Awards.

The national honour celebrates the organisation's commitment to bringing together health and social care services to provide coordinated, family-centred support for seriously ill children and young people. It recognises teams that demonstrate outstanding collaboration across multiple organisations, creating lasting improvements that extend beyond individual services.

The award highlights the success of the Kentown programme model, which aims to ensure every child with a life-limiting condition and their family can access integrated, round-the-clock community palliative care wherever they live in the UK.

Judges were particularly impressed by Kentown Support's work in Greater Manchester, praising the programme for bringing together ten commissioners alongside a range of charitable organisations under a single, joined-up framework.

In their citation, the judging panel said the Greater Manchester programme: "Delivers an exceptional entry that demonstrates outstanding cross-system integration by uniting ten commissioners and multiple charities under one framework. The unique single point of access creates a true multidisciplinary team."

The comments reflect the organisation's belief that the best outcomes for families come when healthcare professionals, charities and social care providers work seamlessly together rather than in isolation.

By creating a single point of access and encouraging genuine collaboration between partners, Kentown Support has helped bridge gaps that can often exist between services. This integrated approach makes it easier for families to access the support they need while ensuring children receive the right care, from the right professionals, at the right time.

For families already coping with the emotional and practical challenges of caring for a seriously ill child, reducing the complexity of navigating multiple services can make a significant difference. A coordinated approach also helps professionals share expertise and resources more effectively, leading to better continuity of care.

The award also recognises the commitment of Kentown Support's many partners across Greater Manchester, whose willingness to work together has helped create a more connected and responsive support network for local families.

Dr Helena Dunbar, Chief Executive of Kentown Support, said she was immensely proud of the achievement. She told That's Health: "I'm incredibly proud to receive this recognition and would like to thank everyone who has contributed to making this model a success.

"This achievement belongs to all those who share our ambition to transform children's palliative care through partnership, innovation and integrated working. Together, we are making a real difference to the lives of seriously ill children, young people and their families."

The award underlines how effective partnership working can transform children's palliative care, ensuring families receive compassionate, coordinated support when they need it most.

www.kentownsupport.org.uk