In 2017, the Health Council drew up physical activity guidelines for children aged 4 and over, adults and older people. At the request of the Minister for Medical Care and Sport, the Health Council investigated whether guidelines could be drawn up for children under the age of 4 on the basis of scientific research.
Little research has been conducted into physical activity and health among children aged 0 to 3. The limited research data indicate that more physical activity and less sedentary behaviour are associated with better health and development. However, it is not possible to derive quantitative guidelines from these findings. The Health Council therefore recommends conducting more research.
Pending further research data, a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) can provide guidance to, for example, youth healthcare services and childcare organisations. The WHO consulted experts in order to formulate quantitative physical activity recommendations. The WHO recommends that children under 1 year of age should be physically active in different ways several times throughout the day, and that children aged 1 to 3 should engage in at least 180 minutes of physical activity per day, including moderate- or vigorous-intensity activity. The WHO also provides specific recommendations for limiting prolonged sedentary behaviour, such as no screen time at all for children under 2 and a maximum of one hour per day for children aged 2 and 3.
The Health Council also examined physical activity and health among 4-year-olds. The Council recommends supplementing the existing guidelines for this group, as set out in the 2017 Physical Activity Guidelines, with the insights from the WHO. The recommendation for 4-year-olds remains 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity every day, while limiting prolonged sedentary behaviour. New is the recommendation to be physically active for at least 180 minutes, spread throughout the day and involving different types of activities such as cycling and playing outdoors. Another new recommendation is a maximum of 60 minutes of screen time per day, in order to limit prolonged sedentary behaviour.
Click here for the Health Council's advice and relevant downloads.