A guide for parents
Activity, play and sport
01
Participation matters
Movement, play and friendships are important parts of childhood. There is no single activity rule for every child with a heart condition. Advice depends on their blood flow, treatment, symptoms and the activity they want to do. Ask the team for specific guidance about the things your child actually wants to do, rather than a broad instruction to “take it easy”.
02
What happens next
Ask what the guidance means
Discuss PE, swimming, playground games and organised sport separately when needed. Some children need to slow down, take breaks or avoid certain activities. After a procedure, temporary recovery advice may differ from the longer-term plan. Ask which symptoms should stop an activity and when to contact the team. Give school or club staff the relevant written guidance and explain how they can support participation.
Build a workable everyday approach
Talk with your child about what is enjoyable, tiring or embarrassing. A shorter session or a different role may help. Your child does not have to push themselves to the limit to join in. Ask the team to describe safe choices in language staff can use and to review advice when the child’s condition or interests change.
Let a child raise concerns about keeping up with friends. Agree who can help them take a break discreetly and how they can ask for help. For a teenager, a conversation about goals and independence can be more useful than adults deciding everything around them.
03
Questions to ask
Save the questions you want to take to your next appointment. You can edit them in your Journal.
- Which activities can our child join in with now, and are there any adjustments that would help them take part?
- Which symptoms mean our child should stop an activity, and when should we seek advice or urgent help?
- When should we review the activity plan, especially if our child’s health, treatment or interests change?
Sources and review
Sources checked 9 October 2026. Independent clinical review pending.
- NHS: Congenital heart disease
Accessed 9 October 2026
- Great Ormond Street Hospital: Helping your child with congenital heart disease stay healthy
Accessed 9 October 2026
- British Heart Foundation: Congenital heart disease
Accessed 9 October 2026