India's First School Health Survey

INDIA’s FIRST SCHOOL HEALTH SURVEY

This shares the results of India’s first ever school health assessment conducted by EduSports in 2009-2010. The findings are aimed at creating awareness amongst parents/ schools/ doctors about the state of health amongst children in the age group of 5 to 14 years.

KEY FINDINGS

• Problems of obesity and over-weight manifest themselves more prominently from an age of 8 and upwards.
• 25% of children above 8 years are obese/over-weight compared to 19% in the ages of 7 and below
• There is very little difference in the health levels of children across genders.
• Girls across age-groups tend to be slightly healthier (Normal BMI) compared to the boys in the similar age-groups. (~5% difference)
• There is no significant difference in the health levels of children between metros and non-metros.
• 54% of children in metros with the right BMI vs. 57% in the non-metros

ACTION STEPS/WATCHOUTS

It is essential:

1. To monitor if children lead ‘physically active lives’ (enough time to play, right physical activity) as they grow older to ensure they do not turn out to be obese/ over weight? (Esp. ages 8 and above)

2. To ensure children across genders and town-classes get access to the ‘Right level and type of Physical Activities’ to lead healthy lives. Hence, it is critical to understand that problems of obesity/over-weight are not metro/region/gender specific.

METHODOLOGY

The health assessment was conducted in 2009-2010 across 21 EduSports partner schools in 15 cities. It involved a cross sectional study (a single assessment of the sample) across 4098 children (2200 boys and 1898 girls) in the age group of 5 to 14 years. The different metrics measured include Body Mass Index, aerobic & anaerobic capacities, muscle strength, endurance and flexibility measurements.

DETAILS

1. BMI Data (Sample of 4098 children in EduSports partner schools)

2. List of Cities where the study was conducted- Bangalore, Chennai, NCR (Noida, Gurgaon), Lucknow, Indore, Raipur, Madurai, Coimbatore, Mohali, Baroda, Amritsar, Panipat, Moga, Mangalore

Football and Our New Identity!

During the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, I had the privilege of spending an entire month in Europe – travelling to various cities in Germany watching games LIVE as well as on giant screens with thousands of other fans.

Before the World Cup started, I recall having a 10 minute “discussion” with a French fan on the train to Berlin. Just that he did not speak English and I did not speak French – but we discussed the best players, the top teams and he was sure France will win!

During the Brazil-Croatia game, I was in the stadium wearing a Brazil shirt – and a bunch of Croats sitting behind me asked me if I had come from Brazil. They were surprised to know I was from India – and then even more curious to know why I was supporting Brazil. “Why don’t you support Croatia?” asked one of them and handed me a Croat scarf (I still have it at home) and a Croat noise-making balloon.

Back then, I did not have an answer for this Croat friend of mine. I still don’t. I also found it amazing to have a conversation with a French guy without knowing French. But after watching the current excitement, clearly there is something in the magic of sport that is able to make level-headed individuals do all kinds of crazy things to support a country that has *NO* connection with their own country.

Now, the 2010 FIFA World Cup – “The Biggest Show on Earth” is ON. Some fantastic games. Some not so fantastic. But there is a constant buzz in the air (almost like the vuvuzela’s buzz in the stadium) about what’s going to happen; how the Group of Death will pan out; how Spain will not choke this time and how Germans are looking ominous.

Most of these football fanatics are male. So, clearly the FIFA 2010 World Cup is not like IPL – that had the lady of the house also following the action (or was she following SRK?)

Boys - ageing from 7 years to 75 – are glued to the TV, staying up late at night, watching some great football and rooting for their teams.

Hold on! “Their” teams? These are not Football Clubs that are playing. Clubs that make their money by having more fans across the world – and selling them merchandise. These are not IPL teams that claim to represent your city or region. These are countries competing for the biggest prize of them all – and India is NOT playing (in case you had not noticed).

Why are millions of Indians rooting for Brazil? For Argentina? For Spain? For any African team?

Some say it is because of the quality of football they play. Some say it is because of the spirit they play with. Some say they are supporting the underdog.

Whatever the reason, it is interesting that we are able to completely identify with another country’s national team and support it as passionately as we would support our own.

You know what? Sometimes, reasons are not important. The fact is that this “new identity” thing happens. It is real. You can see it all around you.

If Sports has the power to give so many of us a new identity, create so much of positive energy and enthusiasm, help break barriers (notice how easy it is to talk to another guy who is also watching football?), shouldn’t we have more of it?

For the next generation, shouldn’t we “hand down” this joy, this euphoric feeling that sports gives us?

Shouldn’t we find ways to get our kids to experience the magic of sport as well?

Play? Really?

Play: Scientific Experiments conducted by Children

SPORTS FOR HEALTHY CHILDREN

Parents, the world over, are getting increasingly concerned over their child’s health & fitness. Society is seeing an increasing level of child obesity and therefore associated physical and psychological ailments.

Developing healthy & fit children should start with understanding what a child’s body and mind is “designed” for. A lot of health & fitness programs start with the adult context – and thereby miss out on the key elements that will work with children. E.g. Kids should not be going to gyms. Their bodies are not designed for such highly structured, repetitive activites as well as weights. Kids should not diet. While there is a certain balance necessary for any person, diet as a means of weight control for children is inappropriate given that the child’s body is developing.

Children are designed to play. Period. And this is how nature ensures that children stay healthy & fit!

From the time they are born, children learn through play.

Through play, children learn about the world around them, they learn about their own body, learn how to interact with others; learn what gets them a pat on the back and what gets them a scolding. Play helps children understand how various aspects of the world around them work and interact.

From a child’s physiological development perspective, at an early age, exposure to multiple physical activities is key as a child’s body is developing and different “games” help different parts of the body.

Also, from a psychological perspective, different activities expose the child to different aspects of teamwork, leadership, goal setting, dealing with failure etc.

While it is important to ensure that children get opportunities to play, it is also key to ensure that they enjoy the experience . The only reason children play is to have fun. They do not play for health & fitness. Nor do they play because it will help them become better leaders!

If they have fun, they will continue to seek out physical activity for life – and thereby stay healthy & fit.

So, how can we ensure that they are having fun? Some of the key elements are:

1) Age-appropriate Play Spaces: In addition to child safety, the area that the child plays in should be appropriate to the child’s age and skill level. Getting a small child to play in a large stadium can unnerve the child. Similarly, if the child is playing basketball, ensure that the height of the post is adjusted to a level where the child can realistically score a few baskets – and therefore enjoy the experience.

2) Age-appropriate play equipment: For each age, there is a certain level to which a child can manage a particular equipment. In the basketball example, taking an adult level basketball for small kids will ruin their technique for life. Children will start throwing the basketball like a shotput!

3) Inclusion: The activity should ensure that all the children are included - and is not designed for those children who already have a sporting ability. This ensures that all children stay interested in the playing experience – and don’t switch off from sports.

4) Introduction to fundamental skills: It is important that some time is spent on ensuring that children learn the fundamentals before engaging in game-play. In the absence of the foundation, the “sporty” kids will outperform the rest – and the remaining kids will not enjoy the experience.

So, next time, you find your child not getting excited about physical activity and sports, do take a moment and analyse the nature of the experience you have provided the child. Ask yourself if you would stay committed to playing regularly given the nature of the experience. There might be some simple, yet startling answers there!

Future of Sports for Kids?

What is the future of Sports for Kids?

Is it never going to be the way it was when we grew : lush, green outfields. Lots of open space. Multiple games going around, kids making up rules as they go etc etc.

In India: It does seem like this is increasingly another of our so-called "glorious past"! Given the changing urban landscape, haphazard planning and lack of focus on kids, play spaces are disappearing.

But thats not the point of this post. Given the change, what does it mean for our kids - and what will the future be? Tempting to write: "Que sera sera" - but for all the reasons that most of us know (and some listed in earlier posts), it is important to pay attention to this.

If we assume space (or a lot of it) is not going to be easily available, do we let kids just stop playing? One way of measuring value of something is to imagine life without it! Are you ok with your kids not playing from this point onwards?
Most people vigorously reject the idea.
If that is true, and we dont have spaces, what do we do to ensure that kids still get the health and fitness - as well as the social skills that they learn *only* through mediums like sport. Not in their classroom.

Is it time to think through a radical redesign of apartment complexes - such that there are multiple configurable playspaces?

Is it time to design a "magic box" that converts your kids bedroom into an activity zone?

Or will the future be played in front of the television through Wii? Maybe.

Dont know the answer - but clearly, there is a problem to be solved - and hence an opportunity!

Where do the children play?

When we started SportzVillage back in 2003 - trying to get more kids to play, i had the good fortune of meeting a very evolved IAS officer. Someone who connected immediately on the need for kids to play - and said my conversation with him reminded him of a song by Cat Stevens: "Where do the children play?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjdVOfnYkyA

Well I think it's fine, building jumbo planes.
Or taking a ride on a cosmic train.
Switch on summer from a slot machine.
Yes, get what you want to if you want, 'cause you can get anything.
I know we've come a long way, We're changing day to day,
But tell me, where do the children play?

Well you roll on roads over fresh green grass.
For your lorry loads pumping petrol gas.
And you make them long, and you make them tough.
But they just go on and on, and it seems that you can't get off.
Oh, I know we've come a long way, We're changing day to day,
But tell me, where do the children play?

Well you've cracked the sky, scrapers fill the air.
But will you keep on building higher 'til there's no more room up there?
Will you make us laugh, will you make us cry?
Will you tell us when to live, will you tell us when to die?
I know we've come a long way, We're changing day to day,
But tell me, where do the children play?
-----------------------
Makes you think, doesn't it?

Does TV & videogames stop kids from playing?

Have heard this from a lot of parents and adults: Kids today dont play because they are watching TV and playing videogames all day! No wonder they are getting obese!

I believe the real reason is the other way round.

Kids want to play. Try throwing a ball at your kid and playing with him (really playing - not going through the motions!). See if he asks you for TV or a video game after that.

Kids are designed to play. Today's urban context has ruined the playing experience.
Traffic, restricted spaces, unreasonable neighbors, no playgrounds, ill-maintained lawns (the list goes on) has ruined the playing experience of our children. It is just not FUN to play as a kid any more.
As adults, we get ourselves expensive gym and club memberships - but will not spend the same amount of time, energy, money to make our kids experiences better.

Kids are therefore voting with their feet. They are going to the experiences that are definitely more fun. And TV and Videogames are definitely more fun than watching if you will get run-over by a car all the time while you are playing.

So, lets improve our kids' playing experiences - and you will find they are not watching TV anymore!

Sports Education

So, what is Sports Education?

Education about Sports? Teaching kids about the various sports and their rules?
or is it really about ensuring that kids stay healthy and fit for life through the magic of sport. The magic that helps kids deal with the challenges of growing up as well as adult life. In case you have forgotten, childhood was not all that rosy as we like to believe. It was tough - dealing with the school bully, peer pressure, exam stress; not to mention the age when girls came into the picture, performance on the sports field, wanting to be part of the "cool" gang in school etc.

Sports helps kids in many ways.

At a very basic, functional level, it helps kids stay healthy & fit.
At a softer skill level, it helps kids learn about how to lose well, how to win well, how to set goals, how to show a vision, how to be part of a team etc - stuff that no classroom teaches. Stuff that really helps when you grow up. Ask a bunch of leaders in society or in business - and you will find out that the stuff that really got them to where they are today was definitely not their degrees.

As adults, we have failed in providing our kids something very simple : A place to play.

Kids need a combination of structured play (that ensures they learn the right skills at the right age) and unstructured play (where kids make their own rules, learn to resolve disputes, work with constraints etc)

Sports Education can help by ensuring that our schools deliver a physical education and sports program that atleast takes care of the structured play bit.