In every two years, the Physical Activity Alliance (PAA), the largest coalition promoting regular physical activity in the United States, assesses the physical activity levels of American children and adolescents. The latest “2024 U.S. Children and Adolescents Physical Activity Report” shows that overall physical fitness performance remains low, receiving a “D-” rating again this year, unchanged from 2022, with no signs of improvement.
Renowned Taekwondo instructor and multiple-time gold medalist in Taekwondo forms representing the United States, Wang Shenghao, expressed deep concern, stating, “Children nowadays are becoming less and less active.”
“Wang Shenghao discovered that many American children are gradually losing basic motor skills due to excessive use of tablets and mobile phones, coupled with a decreasing emphasis on physical education in schools.”
According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), public elementary schools in the United States on average only schedule 2.4 to 2.6 physical education classes per week, totaling approximately 85 to 98 minutes. Although California has higher statutory requirements, mandating a minimum of 200 minutes of physical education every 10 instructional days, equivalent to about 100 minutes per week, it still falls short of the “150 minutes per week” minimum standard recommended by SHAPE America.
Wang Shenghao illustrated, “Children aged five or six used to be able to do forward rolls and push-ups, but now many kids get out of breath just from running, or even dare not attempt a roll, losing confidence in controlling their bodies.” Some students exhibit noticeable coordination issues while running, encountering various postural anomalies.
In today’s increasingly technology-driven society, children’s sedentary lifestyles, poor posture, and lack of physical strength have become widespread issues in America.
“Wang Shenghao believes that it’s not that children today are weaker compared to the past, but rather the environment has changed. In the past, American communities, schools, and family life naturally involved a lot of physical activity and dynamic interaction, with children engaging in physical activities daily while going to and from school and playing outdoors, inadvertently undergoing significant physical training. However, today’s children are faced with a lifestyle filled with high technology, prolonged sedentary behavior, and a lack of space and time for physical activity.”
“When the environment no longer provides natural adjustment opportunities, children’s physical conditions are prone to becoming imbalanced.” Wang Shenghao emphasized that the key lies in creating spaces and rhythms for children to move, reinvigorate their bodies, build confidence, rather than criticizing them for not being as physically capable as “children in the past.”
In his Taekwondo curriculum, Wang Shenghao allocates seventy percent of the time for beginner students to physical training and only thirty percent for technical instruction. He believes that only by helping children rebuild trust and control over their bodies can they then focus on learning and challenges.
“Wang Shenghao pointed out that the decline in children’s physical fitness is not just due to the convenience of technology, but also because of the lack of an environment that fosters exercise habits from an early age. Many American schools have reduced physical education hours, parents are busy with work, leading most children to spend their time after school watching tablets or playing video games. Over time, their muscular endurance, coordination, and explosive power deteriorate, and they become hesitant to push their physical limits.”
Wang Shenghao recommended that parents lead by example, engaging children in outdoor activities like walks, cycling, or simple family fitness routines to establish a daily exercise habit. School physical education programs should not just focus on playing ball or running but should systematically train core muscle groups and basic coordination skills.
He also reminded that many municipalities or nonprofit organizations offer low-cost or free children’s sports facilities and programs, but unfortunately, most families are unaware of where these resources are located. He emphasized, “Physical fitness is the foundation of all abilities. The effects of cultivating it from an early age far surpass trying to remedy it in adulthood.” ◇