Alarming: Brandenburg's children are losing endurance in sport!

Alarming: Brandenburg's children are losing endurance in sport!

The motor fitness of children in Brandenburg has suffered significant losses in recent years. According to the current data from the EMOTIKON project, to which senior professor Reinhold Kliegl from the University of Potsdam has access, it shows that eight to nine-year-old children in 2024 were significantly slower in the six-minute run than their peers in 2011. This is alarming, especially because in 2006 the Conference of Sports Ministers emphasized the need to improve the motor fitness of children and in 2010 The Conference of Ministers of Education became politically active in order to make decisions based on reliable data. Significant drops in movement can be observed, especially between 2020 and 2024, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The EMOTIKON project was launched in 2009 and has now tested almost 280,000 students from Brandenburg. The study records the motor fitness of children without the pressure of grades by having all third graders in Brandenburg complete six different tasks in physical education class. Purchasing “fitness passes” allows children to evaluate their performance, while extraordinary results are rewarded with a “talent pass,” which leads to invitations to 30 talent games every year organized by the state sports association. These Talentiads have established themselves as a platform to support talented children.

Early warning system for movement

EMOTIKON not only functions as a series of tests, but also as an early warning system that is intended to identify the need for action in children's motor fitness. A particular concern is the finding that endurance performance varies greatly, especially in schools with many children from socially disadvantaged families. Teachers are faced with the challenge of accurately identifying the level of development of their students. Christoph Schneegass, a sports teacher, reports on the children's motivation during the tests, but also describes that many children struggle with movement problems.

In order to counteract the ongoing decline in motor fitness, a comprehensive sports support concept is required that ensures an “active” future for all children. These challenges are not isolated; The results of the Motor Skills Module Study (MoMo) also show that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on children's sports activities. The study shows a significant decline in physical activity as well as an alarming increase in screen use, which rose from 130.9 minutes daily before the pandemic to over 227 minutes in the second wave. Experts warn that this development could have long-term effects on children's health and social skills, leading to a "lost generation."

Need for social cooperation

Research highlights that motivation to exercise often does not remain constant in children until puberty. Therefore, concerted action by parents, teachers, schools, ministries, sports clubs and scientists is crucial. Only through the simultaneous support of all those involved can a sustainable improvement in motor fitness be achieved. Research reinforces the need to provide children with a balance between education and sporting activities to promote mental and physical health and support them throughout their development.

Overall, the EMOTIKON concept has also made a name for itself beyond the state borders of Brandenburg. It demonstrates how important it is to integrate scientific findings into practice to sustainably secure the motor fitness of the next generation and promote the transition back to an active lifestyle after the restrictions of the pandemic.