Where and how to get young people moving when they don't want to get off their phones at all?
We regularly organize activity days at Annekeskus and offer opportunities for physical activity on other days, encouraging young people to step out of the virtual world, even if just for a moment.
On Fridays, Annekeskus has a movement day. Sometimes we go to a museum, sometimes to an art exhibition, sometimes we just walk around the city or try something more active.
Recently, we went ice skating at the Lõunakeskus ice rink, and it offered young people a wealth of powerful emotions and experiences.
It is well known that young people who regularly engage in physical activity have better concentration and self-control, a more physically developed body, and greater determination in achieving their goals. But the best part is that you don't necessarily have to go to the gym to enjoy these benefits – a regular walk or a few exercises are enough. It is important for young people to develop a habit of moving.
Annekese has its own dedicated room for active pursuits, which includes free play elements. Using large blocks, young people in the younger target group (7-11 years old) build forts, a Eurovision stage, theatre backdrops, or play 'the floor is lava'. Self-invented games spark young people's imagination, relieve stress, promote communication, and develop independence. Next to it is also a playroom with a ball pit, where they can climb and play tag, moving not only horizontally but also vertically, which in turn develops young people's spatial awareness and out-of-the-box thinking.
We are grateful for our opportunities. But perhaps it's even more important to show young people that movement doesn't always mean a physical education class or strenuous exercise until you're exhausted, but that it can be fun, free, and playful. And such movement doesn't require special conditions either – only a desire and a bit of imagination are needed to get young people involved.
The author of the story is Julia Barsukova, a youth worker at Annekese Youth Centre.
