Children and Youth 5-17 Years

2.1.2 Children and Youth 5–17 Years

These recommendations apply to all healthy children and youth aged 5–17, irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity or socio-economic status. A child or young person with a specific medical condition or disability may follow them under the advice of a medical official or with the help of a school special-education teacher. Activities should always be built up progressively — starting a session with simple exercises and moving to more complex ones, and gradually increasing the frequency, duration and intensity over time. Since this age band covers several stages of growth, the kind of activity chosen will change from stage to stage.

The chief aim of activity in this age group is to improve cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness and bone health, improve cardiovascular and metabolic health markers, and reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression.