7 Exercise spaces in educational institutions
Increasing numbers of children in Europe spend their time in
day care or at school. Playgrounds and school yards should be
made more activity-friendly – also by simple means. The school
outdoor facilities are usually situated close to residential areas
and ideal for physical activity. Municipalities should open up
as many of these facilities as possible outside school hours for
children and young people, and make this known.
The increasing institutionalisation of pre-school and primary education
means that children up to the age of 12 spend more time in
educational institutions. This development brings our focus not only
to the programmes offered in these facilities but also to the spatial
infrastructure.
Spaces in schools
Everyday life at school is mostly a sit-down affair. One to three periods
of physical education a week is not enough to cover the minimum
recommended period of physical activity. Allowing for consistent
opportunities for informal exercising, be it in school or on
the school yard or around the school can greatly increase the time
children spend engaged in physical exercise.
Spaces in day-care facilities
All child day-care facilities should have enough room – both indoors
and outdoors – to allow the children to play freely and engage in
physical activity. If, for financial or constructional reasons, this is not
possible the day-care facilities should have access to sports halls in
the neighbourhood, for instance in cooperation with schools or
sports organisations.
Studies have shown that shade (constructural, trees, etc.) increases
the physical activity among children in kindergarten or school.
Consider the forest as an important space
Every day-care facility should arrange for a regular excursion (at
least every two weeks) into the woods. The positive effects of a
visit to the forest with physical activity are easily achieved.
Within the limits of their capacities local governments should try to
advise and support the day-care centres in their endeavours to
make their facilities more physical activity-friendly.
