Lack of physical activity is a significant risk factor for poor health. Physical inactivity is connected to global mortality rates and overweight. Recently, the screen time on smartphones and tablets has emerged as a considerable concern in the Nordics.
In early childhood, children learn and develop rapidly. Early childhood is a period during which children form their lifestyle habits. A child's day is filled with many different types of activities, and the most important thing is that all these aspects are in balance: eating habits, physical activity, time spent sitting or restrained, screen time, rest, and sleep.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has created a guide, Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep for children under 5 years of age, that helps parents and early childhood professionals implement children's days correctly by balancing different activities. The guide is for children under 5 years of age. The guide aims to provide guidance on how many hours per day children should spend being physically active or sleeping for their health and well-being, as well as the maximum recommended time they should spend on screen-based sedentary activities or sitting.