Movement check: Güstrow's children lose talent and fun in sport!

Movement check: Güstrow's children lose talent and fun in sport!

On September 21, 2025, the 10th primary school health day took place in Güstrow, which brought together numerous children from different schools under the motto “Exercise for the little ones”. Initiated and organized by Petra Zimmermann, who also manages children's gymnastics for 2 to 4 year olds at SV Unit, the event offered a wealth of activities and fun for the young participants. A total of 315 girls and boys took part in this moving event in the Güstrow sports and congress hall.

The MV State Sports Association has been carrying out the movement check for third graders for several years in order to record the children's physical talents and weaknesses. While 10% of children were assessed as having multiple talents in the 2022/23 school year, this value fell to just 8% in the last school year. This suggests a worrying trend documenting an increase in multiple deficits in children. This development needs to be monitored and addressed urgently.

An impressive program

The health day offered a varied range of stations where the children could run, jump, crawl and balance. The promotion of motor skills was also not neglected: the state gymnastics association provided two air track tracks, and there were opportunities to throw rings, hit golf balls or simply play a bit of soccer. The students from the vocational school in Bockhorst actively supported the event by supervising the 18 groups.

A special highlight were the performances by the children from the Känguru daycare center, who thrilled the audience with a short program. The dance group “Sunshines” from Groß Schwiesow showed a happy dance that the children were allowed to imitate. These activities are not only intended to give the little ones the joy of exercise, but also help to promote their fitness and motor skills in a playful way.

The importance of movement

In recent years it has become increasingly clear how important exercise is for children's development. Studies show that physical activities have positive effects on the executive function and thus on the cognitive performance of students (cf. MV State Sports Association ). It is therefore very important to get children interested in sports and health awareness at an early age. The reduction in talent and the growing deficits make such events all the more urgent.

The initiative to support children through exercise and play is an important measure in our society. With a good touch and the right programs, we can discover little talents in a playful way and awaken their love of movement. So stay tuned and support these valuable events in your region, because there is potential for the future here!

Find out more about the physical activity situation for children in MV: Northern Courier.