How can OECD countries empower children to be more physically active?

Increasing children’s physical activity in OECD countries offers major opportunities to improve health, learning and well-being. Yet less than a third of children worldwide meet the World Health Organization’s daily recommendations. This working paper reviews international literature and evidence in OECD countres to explore how governments can foster more active childhoods. Using an ecological framework and contributions from leading researchers, it examines determinants of activity and features detailed case studies of initiatives across countries. Examples include whole-school programmes, active transport schemes, street play initiatives, inclusive urban design and partnerships with families, schools and sports organisations. Initiatives have strong multi-component, child-centred designs. However, better leveraging of friends, families and peers as agents of change could strengthen impact. The paper concludes with policy lessons for sustainable, cross-government approaches to reversing inactivity and embedding movement in children’s lives. This requires culture change and new priorities in schools, cities and daily life.