Community & Charities
Sports and Recreation
Jockey Club encourages children to stay active amid the pandemic
26/07/2021
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 should do at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity every day. However, a recent study conducted by the Fun to Move@JC project found primary school students have reduced their physical activity levels and gained weight amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Fun to Move@JC is initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, in collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong. With the aid of school and family collaboration and the use of technology and big data, the project aims to develop a sustainable model that enhances primary students’ physical activity levels, while improving motivation and efficacy. It also helps enhance their physical and mental well-being which in turn helps build confidence, team spirit and lifelong positive values.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the project initiated a series of online activity classes for children and families, including over 500 free online activity classes, pre-recorded online resources for home exercises and family activities, as well as training workshops for teachers on how to structure and deliver online physical education instruction during school closures.
Based on data collected from the sport bands distributed to students in the project, when students were learning from home between November 2020 and March 2021, nearly half of the participants achieved an average of 8,000 steps per day – a level recommended by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, reflecting that the online classes helped to encourage student participants to exercise.
Meanwhile, according to the “Effects of Pandemic on School Children Report” conducted by the project, nearly two-thirds (63%) of the 800 parents of primary school students interviewed found their children had gained weight amid school closures due to the pandemic. Among them, 11% said their children had put on 3kg or more, while 28% said their children had consumed larger portions of food.
About 61% of parents said that their children’s screen time had increased. Among them, 43% said the increase was 60 minutes or more per day. About 57% of parents found their children’s physical activity levels had decreased. Among them, 24% said the decrease was 60 minutes or more per day. While 10% of parents thought their children’s physical health had deteriorated, 28% of parents said their children’s mental/emotional well-being had worsened.
