scholarly journals Child Development Just Outside the Front Door: Neighbourhood Play Project

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyahno Moser
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Collaborative Approach ◽  
Urban Neighbourhoods ◽  
Time Period ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

This project examines the nature of contemporary childhood with a focus on changing rates of play in Queensland’s urban neighbourhoods. The Neighbourhood Play Project is a pilot project funded by the Queensland Government Department of Sport & Recreation. The purpose of the project was to examine and record the prevalence of local children’s existing play networks in urban Queensland neighbourhoods and to quantify their influence on children's physical activity and outdoor play levels. The recorded decline of Queensland children’s activity levels and physical literacy over the last 30 years – and its direct negative correlation with children’s increasing screen usage over the same time period (Active Healthy Kids Australia (2016) – necessitated a focused study on the possible causes of these changes to Queensland childhood. At the outset of the project it was hypothesised that supporting the creation and growth of local play networks would see a corresponding growth in the healthy play habits and physical activity of the children immediately involved in the project, and subsequently of other children living in the local area. A collaborative approach was employed whereby the playwork practitioners leading the project facilitated the creation and development of local neighbourhood play networks. Additionally, they talked with parents about their understanding of and engagement with neighbourhood play at the outset and throughout the project.

Physical Activity in Preschool Children With the Transition to Outdoors

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell R. Pate ◽  
Marsha Dowda ◽  
William H. Brown ◽  
Jonathan Mitchell ◽  
Cheryl Addy
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Minute Period ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Trained Observers ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity ◽  
Observation Period

Background:It is known that children are more physically active outdoors than indoors. However, few previous studies have observed the time course for physical activity as young children transition from indoor to outdoor activities.Methods:Participants were 3- to 5-year-old children enrolled in the Children’s Activity and Movement in Preschool Study (CHAMPS). Trained observers used the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Preschool Version (OSRAC-P) to record children’s physical activity levels over 20 minutes in outdoor settings. The 20-minute outdoor observational period began immediately following the transition from indoors to outdoors.Results:Children’s activity levels were moderately high at the time of transition and declined over the 20-minute observation period. Different patterns, however, were observed for boys and girls. Overall, boys were more active than girls. Boys’ activity levels declined in a linear fashion over the 20-minute period, while girls’ activity levels increased slightly, decreased, and then increased slightly again.Conclusions:These data indicate that physical activity levels decline with increased duration of outdoor play. The frequency and duration of outdoor play should be investigated for the purpose of optimizing physical activity levels.

scholarly journals The Intricacies of Children’s Physical Activity

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy A Brusseau
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physical Activity Patterns ◽  
Change Behavior ◽  
Before And After ◽  
School Recess ◽  
Physical Activity Programming ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

AbstractUnderstanding the physical activity patterns of youth is an essential step in preparing programming and interventions needed to change behavior. To date, little is known about the intricacies of youth physical activity across various physical activity segments (i.e. in school, out of school, recess, classroom physical activity, physical education, weekends, etc.). Therefore, the purpose of the study was to examine the physical activity patterns of elementary school children across various segments and during two seasons. A total of 287 fourth and fifth graders from the Southwest US wore the Yamax Digiwalker SW-200 pedometer for 7 consecutive days during the Fall and Spring seasons. Children were prompted to record their step counts when arriving and leaving school, before and after physical education and recess, as well as on the weekends. Means and standard deviations were calculated and ANOVAs and t tests were utilized to examine difference by sex, season, and segment. Youth were more active outside of school and on weekdays (p<0.05). Boys were generally more active than girls and all youth were more active during the milder Spring season. There is a clear need for Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programming and weekend physical activity opportunities. Furthermore, greater emphasis is needed on PE and across other activity segments for girls to increase their physical activity levels.

scholarly journals Impact of parents’ physical activity on preschool children’s physical activity: a cross-sectional study

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Xu ◽  
Minghui Quan ◽  
Hanbin Zhang ◽  
Chenglin Zhou ◽  
PeiJie Chen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Maternal Influence ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Paternal Influence ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Purpose This study examined the associations of physical activity levels between parents and their pre-school children based on gender and weekday/weekend. Method A total of 247 parent-preschool child triads from Shanghai, China were analyzed. The children had a mean age of 57.5 ± 5.2 months. Both sedentary behavior and physical activity were measured in all participants using an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer over seven consecutive days from Monday through the following Sunday. A multivariate regression model was derived to identify significant relationships between parental and child physical activity according to gender and weekday/weekend. Results There was a significant correlation between mothers’ and girls’ moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and total physical activity (TPA) on weekdays. Fathers’ MPVA levels correlated significantly with those of boys and girls, with paternal influence appearing to be stronger than maternal influence. However, there was not a significant correlation between fathers’ and children’s TPA. TPA levels of both mothers and fathers correlated with those of girls, but not with those of boys. Parental sedentary levels on the weekend correlated significantly with girls’ levels, but not with boys’ levels. Children’s physical activity levels on weekends were influenced more by fathers’ activity levels than by mothers’, while the opposite was observed on weekdays. Conclusion Sedentary behavior and physical activity levels of parents can strongly influence those of their preschool children, with maternal influence stronger during the weekdays and paternal influence stronger on the weekends. Parents’ activity levels influence girls’ levels more strongly than they influence boys’ levels.

Exploring Preschoolers’ Physical Activity and Sedentary Time During Outdoor Play at Childcare: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Brianne A. Bruijns ◽  
Leigh M. Vanderloo ◽  
Brian W. Timmons ◽  
Patricia Tucker
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Environment Study ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Experimental Group

Background: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) offers many health benefits for preschoolers (2.5–5 y). In childcare, MVPA is predominantly accumulated outdoors, with higher rates purported among children within the first few minutes outside. The Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment intervention included shorter, more frequent outdoor play sessions; this study sought to explore children’s activity levels during various outdoor play schedules. Methods: During the final week of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment intervention, preschoolers wore an Actical™ accelerometer for 5 days during childcare and staff logged outdoor times. Separate linear mixed effects models were run to explore the effect of the intervention on preschoolers’ physical activity (total and MVPA) and sedentary time during outdoor play. Sex was entered as an interaction effect. Results: Preschoolers (n = 292) were significantly more active in the first 10 minutes outdoors compared with remaining time (P < .0083). For total outdoor time, children in the experimental group engaged in significantly less sedentary time than those in the control group (P < .017), and experimental group boys and girls engaged in higher MVPA than boys and girls in the control group (P < .017). Conclusions: Findings support scheduling more frequent outdoor play sessions in childcare to increase physical activity participation among young children.

scholarly journals Striking a Balance: Physical Activity, Screen-Viewing and Homework during the Transition to Secondary School

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (17) ◽  
pp. 3174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia G. Emm-Collison ◽  
Sarah Lewis ◽  
Thomas Reid ◽  
Joe Matthews ◽  
Simon J. Sebire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
School Level ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Sharp Decline ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Screen Viewing ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Physical activity levels decline, and screen-viewing behaviours increase during childhood and adolescence. The transition to secondary school appears to coincide with a sharp decline in physical activity. Parents have the potential to influence their child’s behaviours, yet little is known about their expectations for their child’s physical activity and screen-viewing during this transition. This paper explores parents’ expectations for their children’s physical activity and screen-viewing as they transition from primary to secondary school, and their proposed strategies for managing these behaviours during this time. Forty-two parents of children aged 10–11 years participated in a semi-structured telephone interviews in July 2017 or March 2018. The interview data were analysed via inductive and deductive content analysis to explore parents’ perceptions of physical activity and screen-viewing during the transition, the reasons for their perceptions, and the strategies they intended to implement to help their child balance their behaviours. Most parents expected both physical activity and screen-viewing to increase during this transition. There were several individuals, social and school-level factors influencing these expectations. Overall, parents felt that helping their child balance their activity levels, screen-viewing and homework would be challenging.

scholarly journals Examining School Grounds as a Place for Children’s Physical Activity Performance in Tehran

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 109
Author(s):  
Noura Marouf ◽  
Suhana Johar ◽  
Adi Irfan Che-Ani ◽  
Norngainy Mohd Tawil
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Environmental Audit ◽  
Audit Tool ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Activity Performance ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity ◽  
Proper Consideration

<p>Children need to play outdoors to develop socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically. Outdoor play opportunities have the potential to promote physical and mental health throughout the life of children. Outdoor play has been acknowledged as a primary right for children; therefore there is a need to create spaces, where children can go and play spontaneously every day. Regarding to where the outdoor play of children takes place is significant; school grounds, as a place for children to learn and promote their health, could be assumed as a key setting that enhances and contributes to outdoor play guidelines. It requires making awareness and evaluation of current school grounds referring to outdoor play requirements. Four school grounds were selected as case studies in Tehran to be evaluated by School Environmental Audit Tool (SEAT). The survey shows a lack of proper consideration in the design and maintenance in the current situation of these important sites for children. At the end, some recommendations were proposed in order to outdoor play provision in accordance to current school grounds of Tehran. <strong></strong></p>

scholarly journals Physical Activity during the School Holidays: Parent Perceptions and Practical Considerations

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Emm-Collison ◽  
Sarah Lewis ◽  
Thomas Reid ◽  
Joe Matthews ◽  
Simon Sebire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Children’s physical activity decreases during school holidays. Less structured days and reduced participation in organised activities may account for some of the decrease. Little is known about the factors that influence parents’ decision to enrol their child in organised activity such as holiday clubs. This paper sought to explore parents’ perceptions of their child’s physical activity during school holidays and the factors that influence holiday activity-based decision making. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 42 parents of children aged 10–11 years in July 2017 or March 2018. Data were analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive content analysis to explore parents’ perceptions of holiday-based physical activity and the factors associated with how they provide physical activity opportunities for their children. The data revealed that most parents consider their child’s physical activity levels when planning for the school holidays. However, work commitments in the holidays meant many parents had to rely on both informal and formal childcare. Grandparents were the primary source of informal childcare, despite a perception that children were not as physically active when with them. Holiday clubs were also a viable option, but the cost, location and age-appropriateness of provision inhibit parents signing older children up to these regularly.

scholarly journals Reszinkronizációs készülékkel élő betegek fizikai aktivitásának összehasonlító vizsgálata telemetriás adatok alapján

2017 ◽  
Vol 158 (19) ◽  
pp. 748-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Csaba Melczer ◽  
László Melczer ◽  
Ilona Goják ◽  
Attila Kónyi ◽  
Sándor Szabados ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Electronic Device ◽  
Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy ◽  
Regular Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Heart Patients ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Resynchronisation Therapy ◽  
6 Minute Walk Test ◽  
Activity Method

Abstract: Introduction: The effect of regular physical activity on health is widely recognized, but several studies have shown its key importance for heart patients. Aim: The present study aimed to define the PA % values, and to convert them into metabolic equivalent values (MET), which describes oxygen consumption during physical activity. Method: A total of seventeen patients with heart disease; 3 females and 14 males; age: 57.35 yrs ± 9.54; body mass 98.71 ± 9.89 kg; average BMI 36.69 ± 3.67 were recruited into the study. The measured values from Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy devices and outer accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X+) were studied over a 7-day time period. Using the two sets of values describing physical performance, linear regression was calculated providing a mathematical equation, thus, the Physical Activity values in percentage were converted into MET values. Results: During the 6-minute walk test the patients achieved an average of 416.6 ± 48.2 m. During 6MWT the measured values averaged at 1.85 ± 0.18 MET’s, and MET values averaged at 1.12 ± 0.06 per week. It clearly shows that this test is a challenge for the patients compared to their daily regular physical activity levels. Conclusion: With our method, based on the values received from the physical activity sensor implanted into the resynchronisation devices, changes in patients’ health status could be monitored telemetrically with the assistance from the implanted electronic device. Orv Hetil. 2017; 158(17): 748–753.

scholarly journals Physical Activity, Inactivity, and Health During Youth—The Year That Was 2017

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex V. Rowlands
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Limited Success ◽  
Secular Decline ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

It is well known that physical activity is important for children’s current and future mental and physical health. Despite this, there appears to be a secular decline in children’s physical activity (Cameron et al. [2]; Dalene et al. [3]). Furthermore, (frustratingly) interventions aiming to increase children’s physical activity have limited success (Metcalf et al. [10]), demonstrating a need for more information on the amenability of activity levels to change.

scholarly journals Developing physical activity interventions for children with a visual impairment: Lessons from the First Steps initiative

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer B Scally ◽  
Rhiannon Lord
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Motor Skills ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity ◽  
Do So

Children with a visual impairment are less active than their sighted peers. Yet, they are born with the potential to match their sighted peers’ motor skill competency and levels of physical fitness. Environmental barriers are one of the main causes of inequities. This article provides insight on these issues, drawing upon a physical activity intervention called ‘First Steps’, a British Blind Sport initiative that aimed to get more children with a visual impairment more active. Physical activity packs were delivered to 53 children, aged 5–15 years, with a visual impairment. Of these participants, 62% had additional impairments or medical conditions. A mixed-methods approach was used to gather participants’ experiences of physical activity prior to receiving this pack and canvas opinion on how the pack changed their activity levels. The findings revealed inequitable experiences of physical activity. The First Steps pack made considerable progress in developing children’s physical activity levels. Participants’ motor skills, social interactions, and confidence improved. Organisations working with this population might look to adopt a similar concept. Recommendations for those wishing to do so are provided.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document