22/02/2024
A study by et al, found that kids and teenagers are weaker than ever. The introduction of smart phones, tablets and on demand TV has led to a reduction in physical activity amongst kids. Only 1 in 5 adolescents meets the international physical activity recommendation of 60 minutes of activity a day.
This has led to higher levels of pediatric dynapenia, which can limit a child’s ability to perform fundamental movement skills (FMS) and engage in exercise and sporting activities with confidence, competence and motivation. FMS include locomotor e.g jumping, object control e.g kicking and stability e.g balancing.
Could more done in schools, both primary and secondary? I think so and I would like to see more P.E. in schools, however we can’t keep palming off children’s lack of onto an already stretched curriculum and and getting teachers to do more and more.
Ultimately, this starts at home with parents taking much more responsibility in reducing screen time and getting their kids to be more active. This doesn’t mean they have to do more clubs, it means maybe sending them outside, even when it’s raining or even being active with them and leading by example. Take them to the park, get them climbing. Take them for walks, build dens, climb trees. Upper body strength is seriously lacking in children and teens and I see kids Noah’s age unable to even complete a set of monkey bars, do a full pull up or do a single decent press up.
