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A child’s world is a world of movement

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A child’s world is a world of movement

In no other stage of life do sport, games and physical activity play such an important role as they do during childhood. Children perceive their living environment through physical activity; they experience, explore and conquer it with the help of their motor function. In the process, sport, games and physical activity boost children’s motor, cognitive, emotional and social skills and thus have an impact on their overall personal development.
As a children’s and youth association, German Sports Youth acts as a physical activity advocate for children

  • by facilitating and promoting the acquisition of skills through physical activity
  • by creating and recovering space for children to engage in physical activity,
  • and through information, education and lobbying.

German Sports Youth brings together its activities relating to children up to around twelve years of age in the topic area of “a child’s world is a world of movement”. From the perspective of education, the areas of action relate to extracurricular education for pre-primary and primary school children.

Our basic understanding: the child is at the centre

[Translate to Englisch:] Infografik Entwicklung der Beweglichkeit und Körpermotorik bei Kinder bis 6 Jahre

German Sports Youth places the child and their needs at the centre of its activities. It examines the significance of physical activity for children from various perspectives and specifies the prerequisites and the support necessary for life during childhood and for the children’s individual personal development.

Physical activity is of fundamental importance for younger children – because they acquire knowledge about the world primarily through actions. Watching or instruction can never replace a child’s own actions. Along with thinking, physical activity forms the basic foundation of human existence. Physical activity promotes a holistic personal development, as it constantly updates social references, emotions, motives, cognitions and values.

Demonstrating the significance of physical activity

Two little boys on a wall bars
Credit: Adobe/Fotofreundin

The body is the bridge between a person’s internal capabilities and their external requirements. Our physical activity says a lot about our psychosocial well-being. Therefore, children need a professional framework so that they can be supported and encouraged in their development.

Creating a framework that encourages physical activity

small, blonde girl under a wooden rainbow in a sports hall
Credit: fotolia.com/Silke Wedler

This framework includes sufficient space for children to experience and try out physical activity or to play. Formal and informal places and opportunities for physical activity – from the use of public space to open, non-standard sports fields – must be available in sufficient quantities. Children need child-friendly spaces that they can access and use at any time. There they can follow their movement impulses, act spontaneously, freely and without instruction, and also find peace – places where they feel secure and can realise their dreams.

Representing the interests of physical activity

blond boy crawls on a red jumping net and has fun
Credit: Adobe/famveldman

dsj represents the interests of the child, gives the youngest generation a voice and creates a network so that a child’s world can be a world of movement. In the partner network, dsj is working on an alliance with the goal of improving, building upon, recovering and securing a child’s world as a world of physical activity. This is necessary because children cannot claim their legal rights for themselves. Their rights include appropriate and sufficient physical activity, free space without norms, rules and pressure to adapt, and protection from a lack of exercise.

In summary:

teenagers lie in a circle on the grass and put their hands together in friendship
Credit: fotolia.com/TOM BAYER

We want to: 

  • promote the personal development of children through physical activity and opportunities for physical activity,
  • help sports clubs and childcare centres to expand the provision of childcare centres promoting physical activity,
  • represent the interests and rights of children as an advocate for physical activity.

by:

  • empowering children: they should be encouraged to do physical activity and to further their development through physical activity and should be supported in the process. The goal is the discovery of an everyday life filled with the joy of physical activity, as well as lifelong sport, games and physical activity – so that the children can become the driving force for more physical activity in their family setting and living environment.
  • empowering adults: the aim is for educators and parents to recognise themselves as the key to the children’s motor development and as a bedrock accompanying the children’s learning and their lives. They should provide the children with a physical activity environment that promotes their learning and development.