The project

Normally after an illness children can resume PE classes without causing any problems. This is usually the case after a light injury as well.

„Don’t sit – stay fit” is a Swiss project that offers PE teachers a wide range of adapted exercises by which pupils with some temporary limitations can be included actively in PE lessons. Doctors can be assured that their advice will be interpreted appropriately through the application of this catalogue of exercises.

The aim of the project is to reduce the inactivity and non-engagement of children and young people during a time of injury or illness.

20 years ago children were generally more physically active outdoors and involved in all kinds of activities; running, playground games, testing their bodies and improving their sporting competencies were natural and commonplace. Today the situation has changed drastically and children have fewer and fewer spaces and opportunities for free play and movement. In addition, where school PE budgets have been reduced it affects the time for PE classes and extra- curricular sport and physical activity. With increasing age the time spent daily on physical activity and sport by young people is diminishing and they can become sedentary, indoor digital media couch potatoes. This is particularly alarming during puberty when physical activity and motor stimuli play an important part in the development of muscular, skeletal, metabolic and nervous systems.

After an injury or an illness young people can tend to become more inactive and their desire to exercise reduces accordingly. Quite often these incidences are used as a reason to ask their doctor to allow them to be excused from PE classes. However, during times of illness and injury PE classes and adapted activities can play an important role in the recovery process.

The aim of the “Don‘t sit – stay fit” project is give doctors the opportunity to offer recommendations for suitable physical activities that can be practised during PE classes in spite of injury or minor illness. The video catalogue with 54 activities can be watched online or downloaded and lists a wide variety of examples suitable for pupils who might otherwise be excused from PE.