For most of our lives, the rhythms of our days are governed by crystallised routines: we get up, have breakfast, go to school or work, have lunch, dinner, watch TV, go to bed. For families, weekly routines often revolve around children’ sport or active hobbies.

Then there are times when our routines are upended. Mostly these are life transitions such as starting school or retiring. Less often, disruption stems from individual crises, such as sickness or job loss. Even rarer are social upheavals. The Covid-19 pandemic is certainly one of those.

A number of surveys report changes in parents’ and children’ physical activity and screen time during lockdowns. But what will this mean for their long-term health and fitness?..