Thank you to all the parents and students for answering the surveys!
The responses were numerous, and they provide valuable information about how the school day supports children's physical activity and well-being, and where we can still improve. (Respondents: 561 guardians, 835 students from grades 5-8, and 40 teaching groups from grades 1-4 responded to the survey collectively under the guidance of a teacher.)
What is already working well?
Several strengths emerged from the caregivers' responses:
- The school environment supports movement during the school day.
- School transportation is actively encouraged at home, and many children walk or cycle to school when possible.
- The school promotes a positive attitude towards exercise, and the school's activities are seen to promote children's well-being through exercise.
The students' responses support this picture: they already get a lot of exercise during recess, especially through games, ball games, swinging, and being with friends.
Where can we improve?
A few recurring development areas emerged from the responses of guardians and students:
- guardians need more information that would help support their child's movement at home,
- It was hoped that the break activities would be more diverse and more physical,
- The availability and accessibility of sports clubs after the school day sparked thoughts – especially from the perspective of transportation students and children of different ages.
The students, in turn, hoped:
- more and more diverse break time equipment and opportunities for yard areas,
- guided, low-threshold after-school activities,
- In the open-ended questions, about a third of the responses from 5th–8th graders were “I don’t know / no suggestion”, which is not exceptional: it is not easy for everyone to say in advance what would inspire them to exercise.
The joy and excitement of exercise in Hollola
In Hollola, the movement and well-being of students has been supported at Heinsuo and Salpakankaa schools with the Liikunnan iloa ja riemua Hollolaan projects. These projects have developed the entire municipality's Move! measurement system and the schools' physical activity culture, and have acquired new break-time equipment for schools. Through school PT activities, students have been offered low-threshold guidance on movement, support for comprehensive well-being, functional break-time classes, and flash light training.
The Basic Education Act has been revised so that the task of pre-school and basic education is to promote a physical lifestyle for children and young people as part of everyday school life. The amendment to the law enters into force 1.8.2026, and its goal is to strengthen physical activity during the school day, support the overall well-being of students, and develop the operating culture of schools to be more physical.
For more information about the upcoming legal change: National Board of Education: Basic Education Act is changing – promoting a physical lifestyle will be mandatory
https://www.oph.fi/fi/uutiset/2025/perusopetuslaki-muuttuu-liikunnallisen-elamantavan-edistaminen-velvoittavaksi
Our goal is a school day where exercise is a natural part of everyday school life, everyone finds their own way to participate, and where exercise supports learning, well-being, and joy.
How can a guardian support their child to move during the school day?
The role of guardians is important. Even small actions matter:
- Encourage your child to try new ways to move during recess.
- Make sure you have weather-appropriate equipment so that outdoor activities are comfortable and possible all year round.
- Ask your child what they enjoy most about the school day in terms of exercise, and what they did during breaks.
Thanks again to all the respondents! Your feedback helps make everyday school life even more physical, inclusive, and supportive of well-being. 💚
