In today's fast-paced, technological world, it's easy for children to sit in front of screens for hours and avoid physical activity. This leads to a number of problems, including weight gain, obesity, and chronic diseases. Fortunately, Estonia has made significant progress in promoting physical activity in children in recent years.
How many Estonian children exercise?
According to the Estonian Sports Register, 101,114 young people aged 7-17 regularly participated in sports in 2023. This represents 32% of all children in this age group.
However, there are also worrying trends. For example:
- Boys exercise more often than girls. In 2023, 62% of young people involved in sports were boys and 38% were girls.
- Children living in urban areas exercise more often than children living in rural areas.
- Family socioeconomic status is associated with children's physical activity. Children from families with lower socioeconomic status exercise less frequently.
Why is physical activity important for children?
Physical activity in children has many positive effects on both physical and mental health. Regular exercise helps:
- Reduce the risk of obesity and overweight
- Improve cardiovascular health
- Strengthen bones and muscles
- Improve sleep quality
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Improve concentration and academic performance
How can physical activity among children in Estonia be improved?
There are several things that can be done to improve children's physical activity in Estonia, including:
- Expanding training programs: Provide children with more opportunities to be physically active at school, for example through physical education classes and sports clubs.
- Creating public parks and recreational areas: Create accessible places for children where they can freely run, play, and do sports.
- Increasing access to sports: Provide children with more affordable access to sports facilities and programs.
- Promoting healthy eating: Teach children the importance of healthy eating and provide them with healthy food options both at school and at home.
- Involve families: Encourage parents and caregivers to be role models for children and engage in physical activity with them.
Improving children's physical activity is a responsibility of the entire society. Together, we can create an environment for children where they are physically active and healthy.
Sources:
"Study: Only a third of children's exercise time is spent actively moving" ERR Novaator: https://novaator.err.ee/1014686/uuring-laste-trenniajast-moodub-aktiivtelst-liikudes-vaid-kolmandik
Estonian Sports Register: https://spordiregister.ee/
"Estonian children are less active because parents do not guide and schools do not allow" Emmede Klubi: https://emmedeklubi.ee/koolieelik/treener-eesti-lapsed-on-vaheaktivised-sest-vanemad-ei-suuna-ja-kool-ei-voimalda-5898/
Estonian Institute for Health Development: https://tai.ee/et