How Sports Help Combat Sedentary Lifestyles and Screen Dependency in Young Children.
Technology brings many benefits to everyone's lives. However, when used excessively—especially by young children—it can be harmful. Studies show that children are spending more and more time in front of screens and less and less time being physically active.
This lifestyle shift has serious consequences for children's physical and mental health. A sedentary lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. At the same time, excessive screen time can lead to sleep problems, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. In light of these risks, it is important to understand the relationship between sports and screen time in children, and how physical activity helps counter a sedentary lifestyle while supporting healthy physical development and emotional well-being. Sport therefore becomes an essential part of a child's healthy development.
Sport: The Natural Antidote to a Sedentary Lifestyle
Children who are physically active on a regular basis enjoy better physical health and become more confident, more focused, and better at interacting with others. At an early age, the body needs to express itself through movement. It is the natural way children learn—by running, climbing, jumping, and playing.
A child who spends enough time being physically active is a child who sleeps better, eats more balanced meals, and manages their emotions more easily. This balance is also reflected in the classroom, where concentration improves and energy is channelled in a positive way.
A Healthy Alternative to Screens
Experts say that excessive screen time is associated with vision problems (myopia), obesity, sleep disorders, anxiety, and delays in cognitive and emotional development. These issues can affect children of all ages, including preschoolers and primary school students.
According to an international study published by BioMed Central in 2023, children between the ages of 6 and 10 spend an average of 2.77 hours per day in front of screens—well above the recommended limit. Since 2022, the percentage of children exceeding this amount of screen time has increased from 41.3% to 59.4%. The main digital activities that attract children are gaming, watching video content, and, to a lesser extent, learning.
Tablets and smartphones are fascinating for children—sometimes even hypnotic. They provide fast, constant stimulation, but they do not build real relationships, patience, or emotional balance. Sport, on the other hand, offers all of these benefits. It is, in many ways, a mental and emotional reset.
Children who take part in regular physical activities naturally spend less time in front of screens. Not because they are forbidden from using them, but because they discover something else: movement can be fun. Dancing, outdoor games, team sports, and playful training sessions provide opportunities for children to channel their energy in a positive way, while reducing the brain's need for constant digital stimulation.
At Iepurașul Bocănilă, physical activity is part of children's everyday lives. It goes beyond the regular physical education class and includes dance, games, and outdoor activities. The physical education teacher is also a dance instructor, bringing even more variety and energy to the children's physical activities.
The school is designed to encourage movement both indoors and outdoors through dynamic activities, games, and sports. This means that, regardless of the weather or the daily schedule, children always have access to an environment that encourages them to stay active.
Movement is not a break from learning—it is part of learning. And when it becomes a natural part of a child's daily life, screens gradually become less important.
