Movement agents
An agreed period, e.g., 1–4 weeks
Easy / Can be adapted
Note-taking materials (paper, notebook, phone, or tablet), possibly observation forms
1–10 young people + leaders
How to do it
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Select one or more young people or groups to act as movement agents. The agent’s task is to observe and document how movement is visible in everyday life in the youth center. If possible, the agent can be anonymous so that the other young people do not know they are being observed.
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Instruct the young people to stay in the background and influence the behavior of others as little as possible. Ask them to observe:
- When are young people and leaders inspired to move, and what makes them do so?
- In what situations does the sofa or phone win out over exercise?
- What situations make young people want to be active?
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Set a clear time frame for the observation and how notes should be taken (e.g., notes on a phone to ensure that the information is saved).
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After the observation period, gather the young people and have them report their observations verbally to the leaders, who will document them.
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Finally, compile a summary in writing or on a digital platform where you answer questions such as:
- What things promote physical activity?
- What things hinder or reduce physical activity?
- How can everyday activities be changed to increase physical activity?
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Together, choose small experiments or changes that can be introduced based on the ideas that emerged during the observation.
Peer observation strengthens young people’s participation and their role in the development of the activity. When young people pay attention to both their own and others’ movement, they learn to identify factors that encourage or hinder activity.