An example and encouragement for the joy of movement comes from home conditions. Even if by frying, writes Iltalehten’s Juuso Taipale.
The physical performance of children and young people is a problem that can no longer remain silent. Illustration image. Elle Laitila
Today’s young people are in worse shape every year.
That’s a statistical fact, not an opinion.
The situation is already in such bad shape that it has to be dismantled by force.
For parents, it means that you have to say something ugly to your loved ones sometimes.
The latest figures of the Move! measurement, which investigates the physical activity capacity of children and young people, hardly come as a surprise.
The year went down again. The direction has been the same every time since 2016, when measurements have been made.
About 40 percent of the students who took part in the measurement have such poor physical condition that it causes problems in everyday life.
So almost half!
Fifth and eighth graders participate in the test, i.e. approximately 11 and 14 years old.
Unwell children tend to become unwell adults. When so many of the future working-age people are already unwell, you don’t have to be a great forecaster to guess that this will cost society dearly.
Therefore, poor physical condition is no longer an individual matter. It’s a societal problem.
Unwell people cost society dearly.
As a welfare state, Finland offers a wide range of healthcare services to those in poor health.
It has been calculated that people in bad shape cost Finland 3–7.5 billion euros annually. It is a huge amount that a person chooses or has to not move.
There would be a huge amount of use for such sums elsewhere.
The situation can’t, shouldn’t and shouldn’t be made fun of anymore. The Finns must be made to move. Bodily. The offered carrot was not good, you have to use a stick.
Every one of my interviewees who commented on the Move! studies brought up the same root cause when an explanation was sought for the ever-decreasing results.
Daily exercise has decreased.
Walking children have disappeared from the school road. Jukka Lehtinen
School trips are made by car or bus instead of walking or cycling.
The invasion of electric scooters has replaced the already short walks of urban youth.
The old familiar song of complaint about smartphones and computer games also came up. The old traditional yard games have been replaced by virtual versions.
Many parents seem to think that exercise only means guided sports activities, for example playing team sports.
It’s not like that. A good old church rat and ten sticks on the board with a good group of friends after the school day would be the exact remedy for children’s lack of exercise.
Parents should put their offspring back in the playground. Despite the fact that at worst it causes immense anger and resentment in the little pirpana.
All criticism of the Move! results cannot be blamed on children.
Unfortunately, a bad example of immobility often comes from home.
If lounging on the couch and fiddling with the smartphone is the number one hobby of the parents, is it any wonder that the child also adopts this behavior model?
The challenge to increase daily exercise must therefore be given to all family members.
Here are some ideas for the whole family. Can be used completely freely:
– When you go to the store by car, drive it to the farthest corner of the parking lot.
– In public transport, you get off one stop earlier.
– In an apartment building, use the stairs instead of the elevator. Even one floor.
– Walk or cycle short distances. Even once a week.
There is still one big puddle in the living room to be sorted out.
Body peace.
Everyone should have the right to be who they are.
It is undeniably important. And I totally support that.
But let each one be what he is only after he engages in daily exercise.
Everyone should find the joy of movement. Adobe Stock / AOP