Schoolkids dancing limbo to set a world record in physical activities during breaks

The list of things that Finns will do in order to set world records is probably limitless (prehaps it is a world record in its own right), but probably one of the less ludicrous items on the list was attempted - unsuccessfully, as it happens - on Wednesday morning.
      On April 28th, Finnish primary schools and kindergartens took part in a campaign, the goal of which was to set a world record for children’s physical activities during the breaks between lessons.
     
Primary school children in the yard of Helsinki’s Pitäjänmäki comprehensive school set an example.
      For 15 minutes, the yard was full of children doing various kinds of exercise: swinging, playing floorball or football, playing hopscotch or skipping rope, or even limbo dancing, as the photo shows.
      The Pitäjänmäki school alone could not reach the goal, naturally, and neither were the efforts of all Finnish schoolchidren quite sufficient to beat the previous record.
     
Even though a total of 148,594 children in kindergartens and primary schools around the country engaged in physical activities at the same time, the previous record of 155,479 simultaneous participants was not consigned to history.
     
The action was a part of a campaign by the Young Finland Association (Nuori Suomi), an independent national organisation, the main objective of which is to promote children's and young adults' well-being and zest for life by means of physical activity.
      The annual campaign is enitled Liikuntaseikkailu (”Exercise Adventure”), during which pupils gather marks for their exercising over a period of three weeks.
     
It is a real challenge. According to the current recommendations, children and teenagers in the age-group from 7 to 18 should engage in various physical activities for one to two hours a day. They should not be sitting at a computer or in front of a television for more than two hours a day.
      However, a good many of them are, and health officials are forever warning of the dangers of an increasingly overweight and lethargic generation growing up.
      ”About half of children and teens do not meet this recommendation”, notes researcher Tomi Mäkinen from the National Institute for Health and Welfare.
      Nevertheless, the campaign was effective at least in the Pitäjänmäki comprehensive school.
      ”Even those who are not used to moving much have been fired up”, says teacher Piia-Pauliina Peltola.
     
But how could children be persuaded to get moving at other times - not only during campaigns and to set records?
      ”It would be good to have a hobby that one could do with a friend”, suggests Jenna Snellman, aged 11.
      ”It should be a hobby that can be done somewhere close to home so that one could go there on foot or by bike”, adds Tiitu Tommola, aged 11 as well.
      ”One could go to see a floorball or ice hockey match. Afterwards, one would certainly like to go playing as well”, suggests Konsta Dorairaju, also 11.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Only one in two schoolchildren get adequate exercise (28.5.2004)
  Campaign encourages primary school pupils to engage in physical activities during breaks (2.11.2007)

See also:
  Gastric bypass surgery being performed increasingly often in Finland (18.8.2008)
  National public health study to focus on obesity prevention (16.1.2007)
  Small children need at least two hours of exercise daily (19.10.2005)

Links:
  Young Finland Association
  National Institute for Health and Welfare