19 Municipal administrations

Municipal administrations should exchange available knowledge
with other municipalities to draw up exercise programmes
and, when implementing them, make full use of the
scope for action within a municipality. Municipalities should
appoint physical education specialists to develop and implement
programmes.

Early childhood education is an issue that preoccupies many municipalities
in Europe. The demographic development has brought
about special challenges. The municipal level can play a central role
by introducing modern approaches and implementing measures at
the same time. Here the responsibility lies with the municipal administration,
with its competencies and possibilities to take action.
In the promotion of physical activity among children the following
areas are addressed:

Municipal policy (1), which should act as a driving force for coordinated
measures within the municipality; Urban planning (2), which
should with spatial and traffic planning lay the foundation for an
exercise-friendly community. For instance, more cul-de-sacs in residential
areas encourage children’s physical activity. Individual, social
and physical environmental correlates of children's active freeplay:
a cross-sectional study, 2010); Day-care facility agencies (3),
which should extensively support an active daily routine for the children;
Local education authorities (4), which should plan and introduce
measures to promote physical activities at school as well as
sports departments (5), and health offices (6) and parks and gardens
departments (7). Many of these fields influence the sporting activities
a municipality can offer.

Ultimately the department for public order and security (8) (together
with the police) also plays a part, since how one perceives the safety
of one’s environment has a major impact on one’s physical activity
in the neighbourhood: the safer a neighbourhood is considered,
the more conducive it is for children’s physical activity.

To make use of the municipal resources for the promotion of physical
activity among children, round table discussions should be introduced
and networked, particularly in major cities (see Guideline 8).