Award-winning! Smart Work 2025: Increasing physical activity in the small classes’ afternoon club

The idea of increasing physical activity arose during our studies. Five school assistants from our school took part in the city’s Promoter of Children’s Physical Activity training. During the course, we realized that children’s regular physical activity and goal-oriented skills practice were limited.

We decided to change this and to inspire and motivate children to be physically active in versatile ways, practicing fundamental motor skills, so that in the future they would have good physical skills and know how to enjoy being active. We especially wanted to encourage and pay attention to children whose physical skills were still underdeveloped or who had not yet discovered the joy of movement.

We created easy-to-use physical activity materials, available to all groups, containing various skill exercises that develop balance, movement, and handling abilities.

Among other things, we came up with activity boxes that each group can borrow daily. The box is easy to move and take along to different spaces, and tasks can be done even in a small space, some without any equipment at all. The boxes contain various physical activities, games, and equipment made from recycled materials, including tail balls made together with the children.

Two dedicated activity bags were made for outdoor use, which are easy to carry along, for example on park outings as well. The outdoor bags contain more energetic movement games and tasks. Among the children’s favorites were games such as ice man, dodgeball, and various tag games.

Two guided physical activity sessions are held daily, and in the afternoons, children are encouraged to be active by offering them various pieces of sports equipment, which also helps them practice handling skills with items such as different balls and bats.

Children’s physical activity has become more regular, and many of their skills have developed, while active outdoor play outside of guided activities has also increased. The guided sessions have become more action-oriented and encourage movement.

In addition to allowing children to release energy in a controlled way, the activity sessions have also fostered a great deal of learning beyond physical skills, including social, mathematical, and cognitive skills. Children got to experience the joy of success, which in turn builds self-esteem.

The activity boxes, outdoor activity bags, and other materials remain in continuous use, and we keep developing new materials based on the experiences and feedback received, as well as the children’s interests.

Developers

Katariina Walli, school assistant
Minna Hjelt, school assistant
Tiina Nevala, school assistant
Janika Mäkelä, school assistant
Kirsi Valtonen, school assistant