Health-promoting school and recreational activities

Description of the action and objectives

Green Deal action

The goal is for all preschools, primary schools, after-school programs, and youth centers to become health-promoting workplaces, in cooperation with the Director of Health. Special attention will be paid to aspects related to mental well-being with strategic actions and emphasis will be placed on using a mental health checklist. Collaboration with Geðhjálp will be established in relation to education in schools and the dissemination of the Geðdagatal (a mental health calendar) to staff.

Implementation period

Planned completion in the second half of 2025

Status: In progress

Status report on January 1, 2024

Currently, 27 primary schools, or 73%, are health-promoting schools, and 36 preschools, about half of all city-run preschools, are health-promoting. Additionally, 86% of youth centers are using a checklist for health-promoting after-school programs and youth centers. The City Executive Council approved delaying the start of the school day, tasking the Department of Education & Youth with implementing the project.

Older status reports

Below you can find older status reports with information on the progress of the action since its inception (if you're using your phone, it's better to turn it sideways).
Timing Progress description
July 2023

A presentation on health-promoting school work was given at the end of 2022, with over 70% of primary schools now being health-promoting. The proportion of preschools is somewhat lower. A prevention plan based on the prevention and Public Health Policy is being developed. The bike project, courses organized by MÚÚ in spring 2023, and safety protocols for bike trips have been added to safety procedures in recreation center children's activities. A sleep study involving one primary school that delayed the start of the school day for upper primary school to 9:10am and a control school with and without instructions was completed. Results have been presented, and a task force has been set up to ensure all schools delay the start of the school day for adolescents by fall 2024. An employee was hired to educate and implement joy, happiness, and optimism across numerous workplaces. The project is officially completed. There are plans to connect the workplaces that participated in the project.

January 2023 A presentation on health-promoting school activities was conducted at a primary school principals' meeting on October 4, 2022. Over 70% of primary schools are defined as health-promoting, and efforts are underway to increase the proportion of health-promoting preschools.
January 2022 New implementation plan developed, approved, and launched. This is an ongoing project that will be in progress from 2022 to 2024. To monitor progress, a status assessment is made twice a year, at the end of the year and at the end of June.

Connection of action to Reykjavík City's policies:

Reykjavík City departments:

Related actions

The table below contains actions related to this initiative, and you can access more information by clicking on the "action title" in the table (if you're using your phone, it's better to turn it sideways).

Action name

Completion Departments
Education and advice on climate and environmental issues

for school and recreational activity staff
2024 Department of Education & Youth
Reduce carbon footprint - Implementation of green screens in primary schools 2024 Department of Education & Youth
Increased access to equipment for staff and children in school and recreational activities 2023 Department of Education & Youth
Advice and professional development for school and recreational staff 2024 Department of Education & Youth
Health-promoting school and recreational activities 2025 Department of Education & Youth
Sexual health awareness 2024 Department of Education & Youth
Children's voices in decisions that concern them 2023 Department of Education & Youth
Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 2023 Department of Education & Youth
Implementation of the Prosperity Act 2025 Department of Education & Youth
Allocation of funds in preschools and recreational activities 2025 Department of Education & Youth
Collaboration with the University of Iceland's School of Education 2022 Department of Education & Youth
Development and Innovation Fund for the Department of Education & Youth 2024 Department of Education & Youth
Building policy for school and recreational activities 2023 Department of Education & Youth

Department of Environment & Planning
Joint use of school and after-school facilities 2024 Department of Education & Youth

Department of Welfare
Professional development on language and literacy 2023 Department of Education & Youth
Increased cultural sensitivity and cultural literacy 2023 Department of Education & Youth
Rainbow Certification in school and recreation 2025 Department of Education & Youth
Education Innovation Lab 2023 Department of Education & Youth
The Reykjavík City Cultural Curriculum 2024 Department of Education & Youth