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. We'll pay special attention to factors related to mental well-being through targeted actions. We'll focus on improving teen sleep by starting the school day later each day.
Implementation period
Planned completion in the second half of 2025
Status report on July 1, 2025
Status report as of year-end 2024: Training on health-promoting primary schools was provided during primary school teacher summer workshops in Aug. 2024. According to records at the Office of the Director of Health, 30 primary schools and 37 preschools in the city are registered as Health-Promoting Schools. The School & Recreation Council and City Executive Council approved a three-year pilot project at the adolescent level to delay the start of the school day. Based on this, it was decided that the school day for adolescents would start no earlier than 8:50 a.m. beginning fall 2024. Further implementation will be handled by each school according to its individual needs.
Status report June 2025: This initiative was part of the broader measures in the Education Policy from 2022-2024. New actions will begin in July 2025 based on the new action plan of the Education Policy 2025-2027, so this action will be removed from the Green Deal. Oversight of this project will remain with the Public Health and Prevention Team of the Department of Education & Youth and will be presented annually to the executive board of the Department of Education & Youth.
Older status reports
| Timeline | Progress description | |
| January 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. | |
| 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. |
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| January 2023 | A presentation on health-promoting schooling was held at the 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. |
Related actions
Societal objective
- 1. For All of Us | The Green Deal Residents' well-being and the feeling of belonging in Reykjavík.
- 2. Let Dreams Come True | The Green Deal Children and adolescents let their dreams come true.
- 3. Culture and arts will be integrated into city life | Green Deal Everyone has equal opportunities to participate in and enjoy culture and arts.
- 4. Sports for all | Green Deal Most people regularly engage in sports or other physical activities.
- 5. Improved public health | Green Deal A health-promoting, sustainable, and diverse community.
- 6. Human rights, increased participation, and improved conversations with residents | Green Deal Residents have the opportunity to work with the City to improve their quality of life.