Children need three hours exercise a day - Finland

A child plays football in a park in Vaasa, Finland, 16 April 16 2010 Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption The recommended amount of exercise for young children in Finland has increased from two to three hours a day



Children aged eight and under have been targeted in the move.




Ms Grahn-Laasonen said physical activity contributed to a child's happiness and promoted learning by developing a young person's ability to interact socially.

"When children exercise together they develop interaction skills and connect socially, and it's healthy, too," she told local media.

How will it affect the school curriculum?




Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Finland is considering removing desks from classrooms to encourage children to exercise during lessons


"Some children learn very well sitting at a desk and listening, others would benefit greatly from moving around the room talking with their classmates," said Ms Rautiainen.



What do young people think?



What is the current recommendation?

Guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggest that children and young teenagers aged between 5 and 17 should perform at least an hour of moderate physical exercise a day.

But the public health body goes on to say that more than an hour will provide additional health benefits, including later in life.

Why are Finnish children so fit?




If there was a problem, a doctor was called in.

Image copyright Getty Images
Image caption Schools in Finland are required to provide nutritional meals for young children


Why is more exercise needed?

According to the WHO, Finland's population is still among the healthiest, but economic, social and cultural developments through globalisation are having a detrimental impact.

As in many countries, health inequalities are on the rise in Finland.

Is Finland ahead of the game?

Finland introduced child health clinics way back in the 1940s, a pioneering move that was later introduced in other nations.

The primary focus at the time was on physical development and nutrition, early identification of abnormal conditions or disease and immunisation.

With this latest focus on physical activity among schoolchildren, Finland remains a leading nation when it comes to the health of its young citizens.

Related Topics

More on this story