Health challenges in childhood today

Around the world parents, professionals and politicians are worried about the decline in children’s health. Today, children struggling with being overweight actually outnumber those facing famine. The sedentary lifestyles of our children have drastic consequences – not only for their physical health but even for their learning, social and emotional skills.

This publication is intended as a source of inspiration for bringing outdoor play back into the lives of children as
means of dealing with some of the pressing health issues,and not solely on the physical level: by being physically active, by playing outdoors regularly, children increase their physical skills and also their emotional, social and learning skills.

Playful solutions for health

In this publication, the KOMPAN Play Institute has put together a series of facts and suggestions for solutions using play as a health promoter. WHO recommends a minimum of one hour a day of moderate physical activity for children and young people, and half an hour a day for adults.
Research by Professor Lars Bo Andersen and Senior Lecturer Karsten Froberg suggests that the correct minimum requirement should be 90 minutes a day. The Norwegian city of Stavanger has done a remarkable job implementing play and health in city planning, as Torgeir Sørensen, Head of Parks and Sports department, Stavanger explains.

We hope you will enjoy this compilation of examples that play matters!