In the Netherlands, approximately 38% of children aged 4 to 11 do not meet the recommended daily exercise guidelines. At the same time, research shows that early childhood is crucial for developing active exercise behaviour (WHO, 2020; Tremblay et al., 2016).
With the STARTbox, BYCS supports daycare centers and primary schools in making active movement and cycling part of everyday life in a playful, accessible way; in the classroom, on the school playground, and at home.
What is the STARTbox?
The STARTbox encourages young children (aged 2-6) to practice moving and cycling in a playful way, by making cycling a natural part of everyday playtime. Not through lessons or instruction, but through repetition, fun, and doing things together; in the classroom, in the schoolyard, and at home.
With the STARTbox, educators and teachers can easily and flexibly offer exercise and cycling activities during outdoor play, free playtime, or short exercise breaks in between. Children are introduced to cycling and exercise in a playful way, by trying it themselves, repeating it, and playing together.
Why the STARTbox?
The STARTbox helps schools and daycare centers get young children moving in a playful way and make active exercise part of their daily lives. The STARTbox is designed so that:
- Children move more often and enjoy doing so.
- Cycling is a regular part of the daily routine.
- Parents are actively involved in exercise at home.
- Caregivers can get started right away without additional training.
This approach supports the STARTbox in achieving the following objectives:
- Improving children’s physical health and motor skills
- Raising awareness of the benefits of cycling through participation in accessible cycling activities
In this way, the STARTbox lays a fundamental foundation for a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age.
What’s in the STARTbox?
The STARTbox is a complete, ready-to-use toolkit. Everything you need to actively encourage cycling in an accessible way is contained in one box:
- A clear user manual with clear explanations on how to use the box.
- Various checklists with tips for cycling safely and staying safe.
- Two children’s bikes (one balance bike and one bike with pedals)
- Cones and play equipment for simple cycling activities
- A bike pump
- A basic repair kit
- Flammie mascot (cuddly toy) with Flammie’s Journey (diary to keep track of cycling activities at home)
- Activation and communication materials for parental involvement
The STARTbox remains in a group or class throughout the school year, so that children get plenty of practice and exercise and cycling do not become a separate activity, but a recurring part of the day!
Involving parents: exercise doesn’t stop at the door
The STARTbox is explicitly designed to actively involve parents and caregivers. Not as a separate addition, but as an essential part of the approach.
Walking Wednesday & Cycling Friday
The box contains the Walking Wednesday & Cycling Friday activation campaign, which encourages parents to walk or cycle to daycare or school with their children. A poster, stickers, and clear communication make active transport visible and normal.
Flammie’s Journey: an adventure together
Every weekend, Flammie the Flamingo goes home with a different child, along with a bicycle and Flammie’s Journey diary. In Flammie’s Journey, parents and children write down their experiences: where they went, what was fun, and how they exercised together.
This diary serves as a playful form of reflection and ensures:
- More shared moments of exercise;
- Increased awareness among parents; and
- Tools for conversations at home about exercise and cycling.
Working together towards a group cycling certificate
Children work as a group towards a joint cycling certificate. This is not about individual performance, but about participating, repeating, and having fun together. Parents are actively involved in this, for example, at a presentation moment and visible progress in the group.
This way, exercise becomes something you do together, at school or daycare, and at home!
Who is the STARTBox designed for?
The STARTBox is aimed at the following target groups:
Primary: Children aged 2-6 years old, attending daycare or primary school.
Secondary: Parents and caregivers, who can continue the cycling culture at home.
Our Theory of Change
Impact (long term)
The STARTbox contributes to healthy, inclusive, and active communities in which cycling is a natural and enjoyable part of the daily lives of young children and their environment. This contributes to improved health and increased awareness of the benefits of cycling.
Outcome (medium term)
For children (2-6 years)
- More daily exercise
- Improved motor development
- More self-confidence and enjoyment of exercise
For parents/caregivers and educational staff
- More knowledge and skills to guide children in physical activities
- Greater involvement in children’s active and healthy development
- Increased awareness of the importance of exercise from an early age
Outputs (direct results)
- Insights into children’s participation, development, and experiences with cycling activities
- Measuring children’s involvement and personal development
Activities (what we do)
- Encouraging the continuation of cycling activities at home
- Collecting stories and learning experiences from parents and children
- Organizing cycling activities and activation campaigns about bicycle use
Inputs (what is needed)
- Educational staff and parents
- Data collection tools
- Cooperation with schools and daycare locations
- Physical exercise equipment for cycling from the STARTbox
Measuring impact and continuing to learn
BYCS uses a simple and achievable measurement approach that is appropriate for childcare and primary education settings:
- Pre- and post-measurement questionnaires for parents
- Registration forms for childcare workers and teachers, focusing on engagement and use of cycling activities from the STARTbox by children
- Insights from Flammie’s Journey for parents and children, which measures how exercise is experienced at home in the form of an activity log
This combination provides insight into changes in awareness and involvement in cycling among both children and parents. Using various measurement tools, BYCS can measure the impact of the STARTbox and, at the same time, help to further improve it.
About BYCS
BYCS is an Amsterdam-based NGO that creates impact in the areas of health, gender equality, and community strengthening by exponentially increasing bicycle use among children, caregivers, and communities worldwide, with a focus on human infrastructure (strengthening social capital). In this way, cycling is used as a means to make a social impact.
When using the STARTbox in Zaandam-Oost, BYCS focuses on young children in the 2-6 age group and their parents/caregivers. With a product such as the START Box, we help schools and childcare centers to embed active exercise from an early age — with lasting impact.
Want to know more?
Wandel Woensdag – Fiets Vrijdag
Interested in getting started with the STARTbox?
Locations can start using the STARTbox from March 16. We will consult with you to plan a start date and ensure that delivery and setup fit in with your schedule.
Are you interested, would you like more information, or would you like to explore whether the STARTbox is suitable for your location or organisation?
Please contact us at startbox@bycs.org. We are happy to help!