Stories about movement
30–90 min + further development
Easy
Paper and writing utensils, or computers or tablets for writing
1–20
How to do it
Tip: The stories can be compiled into, for example, a social media post, a poster, or a photo collage on the walls of the premises.
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Ask the young people to imagine a young person sitting at home, feeling down and lacking energy.
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Give instructions to write a story that begins in this situation and ends with the young person feeling better thanks to exercise.
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Ask them to describe what happens in between: What makes the young person move? How does their mood change?
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Explain that they can use their own experiences or those of friends: When have they themselves felt better after exercising? How have small everyday movements helped them to cope, feel happy, or change their mood? Emphasize small everyday actions rather than exercise sessions.
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Collect the stories and go through them carefully. This can be done by you, the youth leader team, or together with the young people.
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Reflect together on the stories:
- What everyday things made the young people feel good?
- How does movement appear in the stories?
- Are there any common denominators?
- What ideas or changes do the stories suggest for youth activities?
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Discuss together what could be added to the activities based on the stories, or what new ways of supporting movement could be tried.
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Make the young people’s voices visible. Tell them what information the stories provided and how it is being used to develop the activities.
Writing stories gives young people a creative way to reflect on and express their relationship with movement and to identify everyday activities that promote well-being. Sharing experiences gives youth leaders valuable information about young people’s needs and wishes. Joint discussions and using these insights in activity planning build trust and strengthen participation.