What makes Joy of Moving distinctive is its focus on play and fun rather than competition. Children participate in more than 80 exercises adapted to different ages, allowing them to gradually progress their skills. The focus is on enjoying, laughing and sharing with others, rather than competing to win.
This approach has proven to be highly effective, with 90% of students having fun during the game, 90% of parents noticing an increase in their children’s physical activity, and 81% of teachers reporting improvements in skills and ability. motivation of their students.
Paolo Cornero, CEO of Ferrero Mexico, assures that Joy of Moving helps children develop fundamental skills such as problem solving and decision making, crucial skills in working life. The challenges posed in the activities teach children to recognize mistakes and look for creative solutions, skills that are essential in adult life.
A pilot program in Mexico
In Guanajuato, Mexico, this program has been implemented since 2021 with a significant investment in the training of teachers and basic education teachers. The second phase of training aims to reach 840 educators and benefit 150,000 children in 637 schools, which represents approximately 20.8% of primary schools in Guanajuato.
The results after two years of implementation are encouraging: 89.9% of students have fun during the games, 89.7% of parents have noticed an increase in their children’s physical activity and 80.7% of teachers have improved their abilities and motivation to teach physical activity in school. Additionally, some students have shown improvements in attention and behavior in the classroom.
He arrived in Guadalajara this year. Since July 24, training began for 100 physical education teachers from 100 different public schools in Zapopan, Tlajomulco, Tlaquepaque, Tonalá and El Salto. Through them it is estimated to positively impact around 45,000 children in this city.
Joy of Moving not only encourages physical activity, but also influences the development of social and collaborative skills in children. Promotes teamwork, effective communication and problem solving, preparing children to interact effectively in their adult professional lives.
“If I were a president, the first thing I would do is invest in education because education is the continuity and future of any nation; education for a child is having a critical sense, being able to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong. that is wrong. With the family that gives you the example and the school that teaches you, going wrong is much more difficult and if you are prepared you are also more productive and if you are more productive you earn more and have a more decent life. “shares Cornero.
Ferrero México seeks to expand the benefits of this methodology to other states of the republic, with the aim of continuing to improve children’s learning through a playful approach.
Without so much memorization
Juan Carlos Silas, research professor at the Department of Psychology, Education and Health of ITESO and coordinator of the interinstitutional doctorate in Education, is convinced that this methodology should be carried out at the federal level.
“The education we know often focuses on specific content and a traditional approach based on repetition and memorization, which limits the teaching of more dynamic and essential life skills,” he says.
Silas highlights that physical activation and the need to promote more collaborative and project-based approaches in education is important, but emphasizes that physical education must go beyond competition and promote collaboration and mobility.
Likewise, it mentions that it is more viable for these initiatives to come from the private sphere due to space and resource limitations in many schools. Therefore, he stresses the importance of involving other community actors in education. He even criticizes the lack of public financing in education and advocates for a more focused approach to addressing the real challenges facing education in Mexico, considering that it is the basis of a more successful life and professional career.
The academic also raises the need for a “new Mexican school” that encourages experimentation, innovation and the development of skills for adult life. He highlights the importance of technology and artificial intelligence in education, as well as the need to train teachers in active pedagogies and encourage curiosity and inquiry instead of focusing solely on memorization of facts.
How are we doing in education in Mexico?
The Ipsos study “Global Education Monitor” draws conclusions about people’s attitudes towards education and teaching in various countries. It is revealed that in Mexico, 37% of those surveyed consider the level of education to be “poor”, while only 26% evaluate it as “good”. Globally, 33% of participants describe their country’s education system as “good”, but 36% think it is “poor”.
It is relevant to highlight that parents, those with school-age children, tend to be more optimistic about the educational system in their countries. Four in ten parents worldwide (39%) with children in school rate their country’s education as “good.”
Although people around the world consider one of the biggest challenges facing schools to be an outdated curriculum, parents focus on concerns about unequal access to education as their main concern. Additionally, parents often cite inadequate infrastructure and insufficient use of technology as key challenges.
Regarding perceptions about teachers, the survey reveals that in 29 countries, the majority of people tend not to recommend their children or young people take a job as a teacher. However, in Mexico, 58% of those surveyed would recommend this profession to their children. Furthermore, 56% of Mexicans agree that teachers do hard work.
When it comes to the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom, the survey shows that people in 29 countries think that technology in the classroom, including AI, will have a more positive than negative effect. About a third (35%) believe it will have a positive impact, while 18% think it will be negative. In Mexico, 42% of respondents believe that AI will have a positive effect on learning.
Although opinions on AI in schools vary around the world, there is a growing consensus that teachers should receive training in this area. These findings provide valuable insight into attitudes and perceptions around education and technology in the educational field in Mexico and internationally.