Intl Children's Day: China's efforts in children's health and development

In an effort to optimize class schedules, primary and secondary schools in Beijing introduced a 15-minute break period in the fall semester of 2024 – an extension of 5 minutes compared to the previous schedule.

This additional break time provides children with more opportunities for physical activity and recreation, allowing an environment conducive to their healthy physical and mental development.

"After the exercises, I feel full of energy," said Zhou Lezhi, a junior high student in Beijing. "It's really fun to do different kinds of exercises during the break, and it feels really different to do the activities created by ourselves."

Beyond Beijing, local governments across China have introduced policies to ensure students have proper recess activities and sufficient PE classes to improve their overall well-being and growth, in response to the country's call for the coordinated development of academic learning and physical exercise among Chinese youngsters.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has always believed that children's health and all-round development are important matters.

As a staunch supporter of an educational philosophy that places health as the foremost priority, Xi has on many occasions called for greater efforts to build up children's physical strength through sports and exercise.

Children's healthy growth

To President Xi, physical fitness for young people, who are "the future of the country and the hope of the nation," holds vital importance nationwide. He has regularly found time to talk to children, visit schools, participate in children-focused events, and respond to letters from children.

Visiting Beijing Yuying School in 2023 ahead of International Children's Day, Xi emphasized the importance of children's sound moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigor, aesthetic sensibility and work skills.

Physical growth comes first for juveniles, said Xi, adding that sports and exercise are the most effective means to build up the physique of teenagers and children.

At a symposium attended by experts and representatives from China's education, culture, health and sports sectors in 2020, Xi urged efforts to adhere to the educational philosophy of health first and promote the coordinated development of youth cultural learning and physical exercise.

His concern for children has been reflected in various policies and initiatives implemented by the top authorities.

In 2021, the State Council issued the Outline for the Development of Chinese Children (2021-2030), in which children's health was included in the priority development areas.

In 2022, a revision to the Law on Physical Culture and Sports was passed at a National People's Congress Standing Committee session. The revision is the first comprehensive and systematic revision since the law's initial enforcement in 1995. In the revision, the chapters – "Social Sports" and "School Physical Education" – were renamed "National Fitness" and "Youth and School Sports," respectively, to reflect China's primary concern of public and youth fitness.

In June 2023, the central authorities issued a guideline on establishing a sound and balanced basic public education service system, highlighting consistent financial input to make sure basic public education covers all.

In 2024, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the National Health Commission and National Disease Control and Prevention Bureau, issued the Guidance on Myopia Prevention and Control in Kindergartens and Primary Schools, specifying eight measures to effectively reduce the incidence of myopia among young children.

As part of its 2035 education blueprint, the country is pushing for primary and secondary school students to get at least two hours of physical activity a day, a move aimed at tackling the growing rates of myopia and obesity.

With dedicated time and space now in place, many schools are working to deliver high-quality physical education programs focused on improving students' speed, agility, strength and endurance.

China will be strong only when its young people are strong, Xi has stressed.