Two major studies on children’s lifestyle habits and motor skills in St. Maarten have revealed pressing health concerns. The findings, presented on Monday at the Government Building in Philipsburg, are expected to guide future policies on child health and education.
The studies were led by the Stichting Expertisecentrum Ervaringsgericht Onderwijs (EGO) Foundation. They were presented to about 30 education and health professionals, including Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Richinel S.J. Brug, Division Head of Public Education Daison Marks, CPS Section Head Maria Henry, and National Sports Institute Director Jisk Goslinga. Other attendees included officials from the American University of the Caribbean (AUC), the Dutch Representation, and the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF).
Study Background
The research was done in partnership with SMDF, the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), and the Department of Sports. It was funded by the Netherlands’ representation in Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten, CPS, and the Dutch initiative JOGG (Youth Unhealthy Weight).
The studies involved 17 primary schools, with all public and Catholic institutions included. Over 3,500 children took the BLOC Test, developed by the HAN University of Applied Sciences, to measure motor skills. Meanwhile, 1,876 parents of children aged 4 to 12 completed lifestyle surveys from the Mulier Institute, a Dutch research agency.
Focus Areas
The Child Monitor survey collected data on eating habits, drinking, oral hygiene, screen time, physical activity, travel to school, and sleep patterns. The BLOC Test evaluated children’s physical coordination through exercises like balancing, jumping, and hand-eye coordination.
Results were categorized by age and school, allowing researchers to identify trends and areas that need attention.
Key Findings: Motor Skills
The BLOC Test revealed that 63% of children performed below average in movement skills. Younger children showed better movement ability than older ones. Experts linked this to academic pressure, increased screen use, and limited playtime.
“Some schools have no gym, no PE teacher, or little equipment,” said Juriaan Otto, project leader and former PE teacher. “This affects how much schools focus on physical activity.”
Only 8% of children scored highly in motor skills—promising potential for future athletes, according to researchers.
Key Findings: Lifestyle and Health
The Child Monitor study painted a mixed picture of children’s lifestyles:
General Health and Happiness:
77% of parents said their child is very healthy, 21% rated them as reasonably healthy, and just 2% said their child is unhealthy. Most parents (88%) felt their children are happy.
Sleep Patterns:
Children sleep an average of 8.8 hours per night. About 21% have trouble sleeping, often due to resistance to bedtime or waking up during the night.
Water and Drink Habits:
53% of children drink four to five glasses of water per day. Over half consume little to no sugary drinks. Sugar-free drinks are rare in their diets (87%). Two-thirds of parents believe their child drinks enough water.
Eating Habits:
Most children eat breakfast daily (79%), though only 35% eat fruit and 21% eat vegetables each day. The World Health Organization recommends five portions of fruits and vegetables per day. Just over half of parents (52%) think their child eats healthily.
Oral Hygiene:
71% of children brush their teeth at least twice a day, while 23% do so once a day.
Physical Activity and Screen Time
Sport Participation:
Swimming is the most popular sport (50%), followed by soccer (32%) and dance (21%). However, 21% of children play outside less than once per week, while 23% play daily.
Maaike Heerschop of the Mulier Institute noted, “Parents are concerned about limited play areas and traffic safety. They want more variety and safer spaces.”
Screen Time:
Children spend about three hours daily on screens. TV, smartphones, and games are all common. Screen time increases with age.
Schools and Health Promotion
According to the study, 61% of parents want schools to prioritize physical activity. About half support healthy nutrition programs. Many parents also value attention to children’s mental health and emotional well-being.
Otto emphasized the urgency of action: “We need to start with awareness campaigns on eating habits. We must reduce sugary drinks and provide healthier canteen options.”
In collaboration with AUC, the team has developed short physical activity videos for schools. Otto suggests these should become part of the daily routine.
Moving Forward
The presentation ended with a Q&A session. The researchers hope this data will serve as a foundation for improving children’s well-being in St. Maarten.
“This is just the beginning,” said EGO’s Ria Uiterloo. “We want all children—not just the privileged—to have access to healthier lifestyles and more opportunities to move.”
The complete data from these studies will be used to shape future government policies aimed at improving child health and development across the island.
