Summary

For children with a chronic condition, exercise is crucial for their health and well-being. This also applies to children with a congenital heart defect – “heart children.” Although they are often medically able to participate in regular sports and exercise activities, in practice they often don’t exercise enough, even though it’s especially important for them. This can be due to anxiety, for example, or because it’s unclear what they can and cannot do, leading their parents and others around them, such as sports teachers, coaches, and (gym) instructors, to be cautious.

The “HartActief” initiative is developing a toolkit that supports children with heart conditions with clear, personalized, and safe exercise advice. This toolkit not only offers practical information but also opens up the discussion about what is possible and how sports and exercise can be positively stimulated. The toolkit is aimed at and is being developed in close collaboration with both children with heart conditions and their immediate environment: parents, sports teachers, and (gym) instructors.