Open this publication in new window or tab >>2021 (Swedish)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Children in motion : Alternative sports activities as settings for developing interest in physical activity
Abstract [en]
The focus of this doctoral dissertation is programs and interventions aiming to increase the proportion of children that is physically active. These efforts are called alternative sports activities as their ambition is to offer alternative developmental paths that may complement the traditional sporting environments. With a starting point in children’s experiences, the characteristics of alternative sports activities are investigated in three empirical studies. In a fourth study, focus is directed toward the organizing partners and their conceptions of the purpose of the activities. The overall aim of the dissertation is to contribute knowledge about the conditions that the environment in alternative sports activities offers to develop children's interest in physical activity.
The main finding in the dissertation is that the activities are designed without a clear focus on the children who make up the target group, that is, the least active children. Instead, the conceptual starting point among organizers includes a view that children already possess the predisposing factors required for a physically active life. One consequence of this conception is that already physically active children who manage to produce physical capital are allowed to control the activities and, thus, define them as sporting environments. Another consequence of the lack of focus on less active children is that the activities are formed with a strong emphasis on bringing children and sports associations together and not on promoting long-term development which brings children closer to a sustainable interest in physical activity.
The conclusion includes the view that alternative sports activities need to be designed as programs targeting the specific needs of physically inactive children rather than active and as ongoing over a brief period of time in order to create conditions for development of an interest in physical activity.
Abstract [sv]
Den här avhandlingen handlar om vårt samhälles strävan att finna nya, alternativa, vägar för att fler barn ska bli mer fysiskt aktiva. Den fokuserar på det som kallas alternativa idrottsaktiviteter och hur sådana aktiviteter kan utveckla barns intresse för fysisk aktivitet. I centrum för arbetet står barnen och deras syn på rörelse.
Med utgångspunkt i barns egna röster undersöks verksamheter där barn provar idrotter, deltar i rörelseaktiviteter och organiserar egna idrottsaktiviteter. Genom barnens berättelser om fysisk aktivitet i vardagen utforskas de aspekter som framstår som betydelsefulla i barnens ögon. Resultaten som framkommer i avhandlingen tyder på att det finns stora utmaningar att utforma verksamheter som utvecklar ett intresse för fysisk aktivitet bland de barn som behöver det mest.
Barn i rörelse är en resurs för dig som arbetar med att främja barns fysiska aktivitet eller är intresserad av idrott och rörelse från ett hälsofrämjande perspektiv.
Johan Högman är doktorand i pedagogiskt arbete med inriktning mot idrottsvetenskap vid Institutionen för pedagogiska studier vid Karlstads universitet. Han är även verksam som adjunkt och har tidigare arbetat i kommunala organisationer med idrottsutveckling med fokus på barn och unga.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Karlstad: Karlstads universitet, 2021. p. 172
Series
Karlstad University Studies, ISSN 1403-8099 ; 2021:22
Keywords
alternative sports programs, physical activity, children, development, bioecological theory, alternativa idrottsaktiviteter, fysisk aktivitet, rörelse, barn, utveckling, bioekologisk teori
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences Pedagogical Work
Research subject
Educational Work
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-85588 (URN)978-91-7867-217-2 (ISBN)978-91-7867-227-1 (ISBN)
Public defence
2021-09-24, Nyquistsalen, 9C203, Karlstads universitet, Karlstad, 13:00 (Swedish)
Opponent
Supervisors
2021-09-062021-08-052025-02-11Bibliographically approved