It’s double-edged thing, half term. You want to spend time with your children and you are probably feeling the need for a break from rigid routines and the daily grind of homework enforcement. Some schools close for a full fortnight,ng up possibilities of mini-holidays for a lucky few, but causing havoc for those with children at different schools with clashing half term dates. For others attempting to juggle work commitments with childcare arrangements, it can be a logistical nightmare.

Nonetheless, the autumn half term is definitely a welcome pause in the middle of the longest of the three school terms and, in theory, gives children a chance to relax and recharge before the next six weeks at the grindstone. So what is the best way to help them unwind? Is an uninterrupted, homebound programme of TV, DVD and computer entertainment the answer? Or does experience tell you that the best chance of returning them to school relaxed and refreshed is an altogether more invigorating line-up of activities?

You have to strike a balance, of course. Too much structure will seem too much like school. But the fact is that there is less and less time for sport in the average school day and, if we don’t create opportunities for our children to be active and pursue sporting interests when they are on holiday, they may never reap the benefits of improved fitness, health and confidence and we will run the risk of raising a generation of sporting duds.

So where do you start? Since sport has crept up the government’s agenda, every local authority has its own sports development officer, responsible for sports and recreational facilities for all age groups. For more information about what’s going on in your area, visit the Local Information section of this website to get access to the local authority websites in your county. Many schools run sports camps during half terms and holidays, not necessarily restricted to their own pupils. It is also worth talking to P.E./games teachers and other parents about specialised courses and activities that might appeal.

If the junior members of your own home team have shown interest or promise in a particular sport, they may well leap at the chance of some intensive training over half term. Parents of aspiring Rooneys or Wilkinsons will find guidance on all the different ways their offspring can brush up their ball skills on the football and rugby pages. If yours are more attracted to the idea of karate, gymnastics, ballet or swimming, have a look at these pages to see what is on offer. The Shaw Method of Swimming uses a gentle approach to teach non-swimmers and those who are nervous in the water, following the principles of the Alexander Technique.

Not every human being is blessed with high grade sporting genes, but every child is born with the desire to be physically active and parents can encourage children to remain so by helping them to discover a range of activities that they find enjoyable. Teenagers are the hardest to motivate when it comes to taking exercise, a fact illustrated by the alarming statistic that two thirds of girls are thought to be physically inactive by the time they go to secondary school. There are numerous possible explanations for this, ranging from school timetabling and poor facilities to cultural obstacles and lack of real choice. Clearly, this is a trend that needs to be reversed and getting involved in a team sport or doing an exercise class out of school is a great way of broadening horizons and social circles as well as maintaining fitness.

So, if the traditional term-time diet of hockey and netball leaves them cold, don't forget you local leisure centre. These often have specific half term programmes in some of the less traditional activites, such as trampolining, badminton or wall climbing. SportEngland is the organisation dedicated to keeping the entire nation moving, and its new online sports facilities database ActivePlaces, provides a comprehensive listing of places to play sport and get active, including over 10,000 sports halls, swimming pools, synthetic pitches, health and fitness centres, ski slopes etc. - and it's constantly being updated. You can search by sport, region or postcode.

Girls in particular may be attracted by the more trendy exercise or dance classes. Many leisure centres offer these for adults rather than teens, but it's always worth asking, especially if you can get a group of friends together to make up a class. Yoga is another option worth considering, especially for those who don't consider themselves to be sporty, but nonetheless want to keep fit. Consult yoga.co.uk for details of classes in your area. Yogamatters has a wide and varied selection of yoga books for children of all ages. For fearless experimentalists, something slightly unconventional like circus classes might provide the necessary spur.

Fit Club is a private company which has developed a innovative range of fitness programmes aimed at the teenage bracket - Teen Revolution (indoor cycling), Teen Combat (martial arts fitness), Aerokidz/Aerojam (dance-based aerobics), SAQ Sport (sports-specific skills) and Waterworlds (water-based classes). Unfortunately, these are as yet only available at private health clubs and so are relatively pricey, but the company is in the process of expanding into local leisure centres, and will have listings on its website. For now, contact David Lloyd or Holmes Place to find your nearest club and see whether they have signed up for any of the programmes, or call Fit Club on .

Helping children to have a pleasurably active half term doesn’t have to involve booking them into courses or spending a huge amount of money. Often a little imagination and a relatively small investment of parental time can help to kick-start a game of football or frisbee. If the weather is mild, a game of badminton over the washing line or a few sessions of backyard or beach cricket will while away the hours. Kite-flying can be an exhilarating family activity when the wind is up. Order spare parts or buy a kite online from The Kite Shop. If the weather turns foul, you can always stage a table tennis tournament on the kitchen table or a gentle indoor volley ball match with balloons. And, if all else fails, there’s always a game of Twister for a good laugh and a good stretch (call for your nearest stockist).

Finally, there’s plenty of research to suggest that parents’ exercise habits are a source of inspiration to their children, so make sure that you don’t overlook your own regime while the kids are at home.