MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – The Muhammadiyah Department of Sports Development (LPO) is taking a proactive stance to combat childhood inactivity by organizing a workshop focused on promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior among students in Muhammadiyah elementary schools. The workshop will be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.
The workshop aims to address two critical issues: the negative effects of prolonged sitting and screen time on children’s health, and the need to increase their physical activity levels. The Indonesian Ministry of Health defines sedentary behavior as any sitting or lying down that is not sleep-related, done at work, home, or during travel. Studies by the Ministry of Health reveal a worrying trend: a significant portion of children in Indonesia are not getting enough exercise. Over 64% of children aged 10-14 and nearly 50% of those aged 15-19 fall short of the World Health Organization‘s (WHO) recommended daily physical activity guidelines of 60 minutes.
The workshop targets physical education teachers and homeroom teachers in Muhammadiyah elementary schools within Yogyakarta. By equipping educators with the necessary knowledge and tools, the workshop empowers them to integrate movement models into the school environment. These movement models serve as alternative ways for children to meet their physical activity needs throughout the school day, fostering a more active and engaging learning experience.
The workshop will be held at the Amphitheater A of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Yogyakarta. The event expects to welcome around 120 participants, including principals, homeroom teachers, and physical education teachers from Muhammadiyah elementary schools in Yogyakarta. The workshop will feature presentations by figures in the field of health and education: Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Department of Sports Development Gatot Sugiarto, Lecturer at the Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) Fitria Dwi Andriyani, and Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine of UNY Dr. Rachmah Laksmi Ambardini.
