Fyysisen aktiivisuuden suositus kouluikäisille - Nuorten Akatemia

9
for the physical activity
of school-aged children
Recommendations
Regular, well-organized physical exercise has benefi cial effects on the
overall health and well-being of school-aged children. This guide contains
recommendations on how to promote the physical activity of
school-aged children, including the amount, quality and means of implementation,
as well as the recommended limits for inactivity.
These recommendations are based on the minimum amount of physical activity
required to obtain a health-enhancing effect in children and adolescents.
The fi rst section of this guide discusses the grounds for the basic recommendations
in more detail. It also contains specifi c guidelines concerning
the activation of each age group, and explains the limits for inactivity. Furthermore,
it offers educational institutions, teachers and parents proposals
for the actual planning and implementation of physical education, so that
the recommendations can be realized for as many children as possible.
The second section of the guide outlines the scientifi c basis for the
physical activity recommendations: the various positive effects physical
exercise has on the growth and development of children and youth,
and the factors contributing to the physical activeness of school-aged
children. It is useful to be aware of these issues when planning physical
activities for children and youth, in order to best support their healthy
growth and development, and overall welfare.
Key words: sports, physical activity, inactivity, children, adolescent, healthenhancing
The basic recommendations for
the physical activity of school-aged children:
All 7- to 18-year-olds should be physically active for at least one
to two hours daily, in a variety of ways suitable for each age
group. Continued periods of sitting for more than two hours at a
time should be avoided. Screen time with entertainment media
should be limited to two hours per day.