Almost half of the children in the Netherlands do not get enough physical activity. Children sit for hours each day and play outside less. This is a missed opportunity: children who enjoy sports and physical activity from a young age often develop an active lifestyle later in life. Learning at a young age pays off later! There is one place where all children come together: school. If physical activity becomes ‘the new normal’, then a physical-activity-friendly school environment should also be the norm.
The fact sheet 'The Schoolyard as a Space for Physical Activity and Learning' is one of the initiatives to enable schools and municipalities to improve the schoolyard. More tools will be developed in the coming period, such as a physical-activity-friendliness scan for the schoolyard and the provision of good examples and best practices.
Using a learning and physical-activity space
A well-designed learning and physical-activity space can be used for more than just playing. The fact sheet briefly explains a number of possibilities:
- Active breaks
- Outdoor lessons
- After-school sports and physical-activity activities
Factors that promote a physical-activity and learning space
Various factors promote the use of a schoolyard. The fact sheet lists a number of factors:
- Space
- Loose materials
- Permanent sports and play equipment
- Challenge and variety
- Colored lines, shapes and areas for playing
- Greenery
- Accessible