Browsing by Author "Peltola, Mirka"

Objective Studies show that most children and young people are less physically active. As a consequence of the sedentary lifestyle, there has been an increase in screen time with children of all ages spending time watching TV or using devices such as laptops and tablets over the recommended limit, which is 2hrs a day. According to research both the diminished physical activity and sitting for extended periods of time have a negative impact on the health of an individual. During school hours, it is possible to increase the active periods through PE lessons and recess. There has also been a rise in research done on the importance of physical activity during normal academic lessons. Among other things, the studies have shown a positive link between learning and physical activity. The aim is to understand the relevance of physical activity during lessons in relation to the health of an individual, their learning abilities and to find ways to increase it. Method This Bachelors thesis is a descriptive literary review of research done on physical activity during lessons, the link between physical activity and health as well as the connection between physical activity and learning. The chosen material includes studies linking the above with focus on children of all ages, more specifically targeting children of primary school age. The focus has been on research in which additional physical activity has occurred during lessons of academic subjects. Outcome and conclusion The studies have shown a positive link between physical activity and the health of an individual. There are still very few studies, which focus on the link between health and physical activity during lessons. According to the current research, we can already conclude that physical activity during lessons increases the overall daily activity of pupils and therefore improves their health. Lessons with an increased physical activity component have a positive impact on learning.