Children and physical activity

No time to plow through long reports? Here we've compiled current facts on children's and young people's health habits and how physical activity and school results are connected.

Children and young people need to be physically active so much.

The body is built for movement. According to international and national guidelines, schoolchildren should engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least one hour per day. In addition to that, they should participate in more heart-raising and strenuous training three times a week, such as soccer, orienteering, jump rope, judo, or dance. Preferably, these activities should be as varied as possible to develop all types of physical capacity; cardiorespiratory capacity, muscle and skeletal strength, speed, coordination, etc.

The research community also agrees on the importance of everyday physical activity in between, meaning everything from jumping on a trampoline with friends to cycling to school or cleaning one's room. And that we should avoid long periods of sitting still and/or standing up instead of sitting, when possible.

Only three out of ten exercise enough

Only three out of ten young people meet the recommended amount of physical activity. It looks better among boys, where the average is 44 percent, while only 22 percent of girls reach the recommended level. And generally, younger schoolchildren move more than older ones. Only 14 percent of high school girls meet the recommendation of one hour of physical activity per day.

Sedentary behavior is increasing

Children and young people are also more sedentary than before, and Sweden is at the bottom in Europe. Swedish children spend an average of two-thirds of their waking hours being sedentary, with screen time being pointed out as one of the reasons. For high school students, this figure is even higher and affects both genders. Some countries, such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, include recommendations to limit sedentary time in their physical activity guidelines for children and adolescents.

How are school results affected?

The fact that training is important for young people's health is not new knowledge in itself. It provides improved fitness and motor skills, increased muscle and bone strength, more stable blood sugar levels, better metabolism, etc. It also reduces the risk of serious diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases later in life.

However, the knowledge of physics' importance for mental well-being and the ability to perform in school is relatively new. Research points to clear connections between exercise and increased self-esteem and a reduced risk of depression. This is because physical activity initiates a series of positive processes in the brain. Thus, just like the body, the brain benefits from aerobic and strength training.

There are also several studies that highlight immediate mental effects on students and the surrounding study environment. Improved concentration and reading comprehension can be seen after just a few minutes of movement. Overall, activity and movement in school can increase learning by as much as 50 percent. This is partly because we remember and can concentrate better when blood circulation increases and the brain receives more oxygen and nutrients.

Regular exercise also releases more of the brain's feel-good hormones, while stress hormones get a natural physical outlet. This makes us more creative, resilient to stress, and positive towards actively participating in lessons, and less likely to disturb others.

Physical activity is also highlighted as “medicine” for children with diagnoses such as ADHD. By exercising for half an hour in the morning and having opportunities for movement at school, they can perform at the same level as children without a diagnosis.

There are also indications that physical training can make us “smarter.” For example, studies have shown that children with good physical fitness have larger memory centers in their brains than children with poor physical fitness.

What must schools do and what can schools do?

School is a unique arena that can contribute to equal health for children and young people. It includes everyone, and a large part of childhood and youth is spent in classrooms, gymnasiums, and schoolyards. Not least, lifelong habits are established at a young age.

According to the curriculum, primary school should strive to offer all students daily physical activity within the framework of the entire school day (Lgr11). For example, the school should encourage movement on grids and leisure In addition, 140-180 hours (140 for lower primary school and 180 for upper primary school) per school year shall be scheduled for physical education and health.

Another important measure that many schools are now working with is active classroom. Classical school education often involves many hours of sedentary behavior. Introducing natural movement and short breaks into teaching can make a big difference for both health and school results, and limit the negative effects of sedentary behavior. Learn more about active classrooms. here.

Finally, the overall topic Health education could be introduced, or at least integrated more clearly into the curriculum. This is something that has been chosen, for example, in many schools in Finland.

Sources include:

http://www.fyss.se/rekommendationer-for-fysisk-aktivitet/for-barn-och-ungdomar/

https://generationpep.se/sv/fakta-rad/fysisk-aktivitet

https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/livsvillkor-levnadsvanor/fysisk-aktivitet-och-matvanor/fysisk-aktivitet–rekommendationer

Young people are moving too little, shows unique study