Moderate improvement in the physical condition of children and young people in Riihimäki

12.12.2025 News Welfare and health Education and training Wellness Sports Basic education

Four girls in line, the first one throwing a ball into the basket in the gym. — Go to the North School's sports club in the spring of 2024. Photo: Teemu Heiskanen

In Finnish comprehensive schools, the physical performance of 5th and 8th graders is assessed every autumn using Move measurements. The measurements assess the students' endurance, strength, speed, mobility, balance and basic motor skills. Based on the combined results, the physical performance of 5th and 8th graders in Riihimäki has improved moderately in recent years.

The change has been particularly significant for 5th grade girls from Riihimäki. While in 2022 almost half of them had a physical functioning level that was potentially detrimental to their health and well-being, in 2025 the situation was similar for only a third.

Not reaching the national average

Although positive changes have been observed, Riihimäki is still slightly behind the national average. In Riihimäki, 41 percent of 5th and 8th graders have a physical functioning level that is potentially detrimental to their health and well-being, compared to 37 percent nationwide.

– We will continue to cooperate to promote the physical functioning of children and young people. In Riihimäki, work is being done to promote physical activity among students in schools, school health care, various city departments and sports clubs. The central importance of the family as a model and enabler of physical activity for children and young people should not be forgotten, says the city's project coordinator Karoliina Salminen.

Free hobby supports increasing daily activity

The city of Riihimäki has invested in free sports and leisure opportunities for children and young people in many different ways. For four years, the city has offered free leisure activities based on the Finnish Leisure Activity Model to 1st–9th graders. The model supports the well-being and equality of children and young people by offering free leisure activities after the school day. The activities are organized in cooperation with local clubs.

– The selection of activities has been made based on the wishes of children and young people. This school year, there are no fewer than 28 groups of physical activities for different age groups. It has been a pleasure to see how children and young people come to try out new activities. You can sign up at any point during the school year, Salminen enthuses.

In addition to free activities, the city organized a free swimming session for young people at the Riihimäki swimming pool as an experiment this autumn. The session will continue in 2026, starting on Thursday, January 15.

Support for 5th–9th graders to increase exercise

At the beginning of last school year, a youth sports counselor, or school PT, began working at Riihimäki middle schools. This school year, the school PT will also visit elementary schools. The school PT's task is to increase students' physical activity during the school day and provide physical education advice. Every middle school in Riihimäki has regular sports break classes, which are led by the school's responsible teachers and the school PT.

– Exercising during the school day lifts your mood, cheers you up and gives rhythm to everyday school life. I have also noticed that sports breaks strengthen young people's social relationships. You can definitely find friends to exercise with during sports breaks, says school PT Aaro Kilpinen.

Physical education counseling, on the other hand, consists of individual meetings during or after the school day. Physical education counseling includes discussions about the young person's daily life and well-being, as well as introductions to different forms of physical education and hobby opportunities. The goal is to help young people find a form of physical activity that they enjoy.

– Exercise doesn't always have to be goal-oriented or strenuous. The most important thing is that everyone finds a way to exercise that suits them and that they enjoy. If a young person doesn't know where to find a physical activity, it's worth contacting me. We can think about and try different forms of exercise together, Aaro Kilpinen encourages.