scholarly journals Exploring Gender Differences within Forest Schools as a Physical Activity Intervention

Children ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 138
Author(s):  
Emilia Trapasso ◽  
Zoe Knowles ◽  
Lynne Boddy ◽  
Lisa Newson ◽  
Jo Sayers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Regular School ◽  
School Day ◽  
Forest Schools

This study investigated whether children engaged in more physical activity (PA) on school days that included Forest School (FS) sessions than a regular school day or a school day with a Physical Education (PE) lesson. How FS sessions influenced children’s general levels of PA and wellbeing was also explored across gender. A mixed-methods study followed a sample of 59 child participants aged 7 to 9 years old, from four primary schools, whilst taking part in twelve weekly FS sessions. Measures included the PA Questionnaire for Older Children and accelerometry data together with an individual Write and Draw task to inform focus groups. Children had significantly greater levels of light PA on a FS day and a PE school day compared to a regular school day and children reported feeling both happier and relaxed as a consequence of the intervention. From the qualitative data, boys and girls reported different likes of the FS interventions, whereas their dislikes of FS were comparable. Findings from this research provide evidence for such outdoor, nature-based learning within the school curriculum contributing to daily PA in children.

scholarly journals The Daily Mile: teachers’ perspectives of the barriers and facilitators to the delivery of a school-based physical activity intervention

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e027169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Malden ◽  
Lawrence Doi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Based ◽  
School Day ◽  
Context Specific ◽  
Teachers Perspectives

ObjectivesChildren spend a significant amount of their time in a school environment, often engaged in sedentary activities. The Daily Mile is a physical activity intervention which aims to increase physical activity and fitness in children through the completion of an outdoor teacher-led walk or run during the school day. This study aimed to explore the barriers, facilitators and perceived benefits of the Daily Mile from the perspectives of teachers through the use of qualitative semi-structured interviews. It also aimed to identify important context-specific factors, which might require consideration for those who intend to adopt the Daily Mile.SettingEight Local Authority primary schools in the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian, UK.ParticipantsThirteen teachers (eleven women) who teach children in primaries one to seven in a school which delivered the Daily Mile.ResultsData were analysed using an interpretative thematic analysis. Teachers were positive and enthusiastic about the Daily Mile and perceived it to be beneficial to children’s health and fitness. A number of barriers to participation were identified including inadequate all-weather running surfaces and time constraints in an already full school curriculum. The perceived impact on learning time was identified as a concern for teachers, while other benefits were also identified including increased teacher–child rapport and perceived enhanced classroom concentration levels.ConclusionThe Daily Mile appears to be a valuable addition to the school day, however important context-specific barriers to delivery of the Daily Mile exist, which should be considered when implementing the Daily Mile in schools.

A school excursion to a museum can promote physical activity in children by integrating movement into curricular activities

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lærke Mygind ◽  
Tine Kryger ◽  
Gry Sidenius ◽  
Jasper Schipperijn ◽  
Peter Bentsen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
School Curriculum ◽  
Primary School Students ◽  
Light Physical Activity ◽  
School Students ◽  
Regular School ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
School Day

Since children spend a large proportion of their time in institutional settings such as schools, health promotion researchers have identified this as an important setting to promote physical activity (PA). Apart from physical education, PA could be integrated into the school curriculum in other ways. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether a school excursion to a museum can increase primary school students’ PA and reduce sedentary time. One hundred and ten primary school students aged 12–13, from three Danish schools, wore accelerometers for four consecutive days, of which one consisted of an excursion day to a museum. While an increase in light physical activity and reduction in the amount of sedentary time was observed, students did not spend more time in moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) during the visit to the museum than on a regular school day. However, over the full excursion day, the students accumulated more MVPA. One school used active transportation to and from the museum, which contributed to significantly more MVPA compared to the other schools. An excursion to a museum significantly reduced sedentary time, but was in itself not sufficient to increase MVPA.

scholarly journals Predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors for physical activity in boys and girls from socially disadvantaged communities

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-162
Author(s):  
Robert J Noonan ◽  
Lynne M Boddy ◽  
Zoe R Knowles ◽  
Stuart J Fairclough
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Physical Competence ◽  
Enabling Factors ◽  
Child Physical Activity ◽  
Disadvantaged Communities ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
Parental Physical Activity

Objective: This study investigated relative associations between physical activity and selected predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors among 9- to 10-year-old children from socially disadvantaged communities and examined the extent to which these associations varied by sex. Design: Cross-sectional design. Setting: Ten public primary schools in Liverpool, England. Methods: A total of 194 children (107 girls) completed measures of stature, body mass, waist circumference and cardiorespiratory fitness. Physical activity, physical activity self-efficacy, perceived physical competence and parental physical activity support were self-reported. Sex-specific associations were examined by multiple linear regression and mediator analyses using bootstrapping method. Results: Boys’ physical activity was positively associated with parental physical activity support and perceived physical competence ( p < .01), whereas girls’ physical activity was positively associated with parental physical activity support and physical activity self-efficacy ( p < .01). Sex-specific mediation analyses revealed that perceived physical competence and physical activity self-efficacy partially mediated the association between parental physical activity support and boys’ and girls’ physical activity, respectively. Conclusion: As parents influence child physical activity directly and indirectly their involvement in future child physical activity intervention programmes is essential. Formative research with parents living in socially disadvantaged communities is warranted to explore the range and interaction of challenges they face to support different modes of physical activity participation for their children.

scholarly journals Action 3:30R: Results of a Cluster Randomised Feasibility Study of a Revised Teaching Assistant-Led Extracurricular Physical Activity Intervention for 8 to 10 Year Olds

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell Jago ◽  
Byron Tibbitts ◽  
Emily Sanderson ◽  
Emma L. Bird ◽  
Alice Porter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
After School ◽  
Cluster Randomised ◽  
The Difference ◽  
And Control ◽  
Programme Delivery

Many children are not sufficiently physically active. We conducted a cluster-randomised feasibility trial of a revised after-school physical activity (PA) programme delivered by trained teaching assistants (TAs) to assess the potential evidence of promise for increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Participants (n = 335) aged 8–10 years were recruited from 12 primary schools in South West England. Six schools were randomised to receive the intervention and six acted as non-intervention controls. In intervention schools, TAs were trained to deliver an after-school programme for 15 weeks. The difference in mean accelerometer-assessed MVPA between intervention and control schools was assessed at follow-up (T1). The cost of programme delivery was estimated. Two schools did not deliver the intervention, meaning four intervention and six control schools were analysed at T1. There was no evidence for a difference in MVPA at T1 between intervention and control groups. Programme delivery cost was estimated at £2.06 per pupil per session. Existing provision in the 12 schools cost £5.91 per pupil per session. Action 3:30 was feasible to deliver and considerably cheaper than existing after-school provision. No difference in weekday MVPA was observed at T1 between the two groups, thus progression to a full trial is not warranted.

scholarly journals Effects of a 2-year healthy eating and physical activity intervention for 3–6-year-olds in communities of high and low socio-economic status: the POP (Prevention of Overweight among Pre-school and school children) project

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 1737-1745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie De Coen ◽  
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij ◽  
Carine Vereecken ◽  
Vera Verbestel ◽  
Leen Haerens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Eating Behaviour ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Low Ses ◽  
Socio Economic Status ◽  
Profile Control

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a school-based, 2-year, multi-component intervention on BMI, eating and physical activity behaviour in Flanders, Belgium, targeting children aged 3–6 years in communities of high and low socio-economic status (SES).DesignCluster-randomized controlled trial.SettingThirty-one pre-primary and primary schools in three different intervention communities and three paired-matched (on SES profile) control communities in Flanders, Belgium.SubjectsBMI Z-scores at baseline and follow-up were calculated for 1102 children. Questionnaires with sociodemographic data and FFQ were available from 694 of these 1102 children.ResultsNo significant effects were found on BMI Z-scores for the total sample. However, there was a significant decrease in BMI Z-score of 0·11 in the low-SES intervention community compared with the low-SES control community, where the BMI Z-score increased by 0·04 (F = 6·26, P = 0·01). No significant intervention effects could be found for eating behaviour, physical activity or screen-time. There were no significant interaction effects of age and gender of the children on the outcome variables.ConclusionsAlthough no significant effects were found for BMI Z-scores in the total sample, this intervention had a promising effect in the low-SES community of reducing excess weight gain among young children.

CATCH: Physical Activity Process Evaluation in a Multicenter Trial

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. S73-S89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L. McKenzie ◽  
Patricia K. Strikmiller ◽  
Elaine J. Stone ◽  
Sherry E. Woods ◽  
Sally S. Ehlinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Multicenter Trial ◽  
Intervention Component ◽  
School Day ◽  
Service Training ◽  
Lesson Context

This paper presents the process evaluation model for the physical activity intervention component of the Child and Adolescent Trial for Cardiovascular Health (CATCH) and describes the major procedures used to monitor CATCH PE, the physical education intervention. The paper focuses on CATCH PE teacher training and in-service support as well as on the curriculum implementation. Monitoring training and support included assessing the in-service training workshops and the follow-up on-site assistance provided by staff. Monitoring the implementation included assessing the quantity and quality of CATCH PE instruction in terms of student physical activity engagement and lesson context, the fidelity of the curricular implementation, and the opportunities for other physical activity by children throughout the school day.

scholarly journals Leveraging School Nurse Expertise to Meet Children’s Health and Nutrition Needs in Afterschool Programs

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-17
Author(s):  
Heather Wensil Venrick ◽  
Natasha McClure ◽  
Karen Hande
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Position Statement ◽  
School Nurses ◽  
Day School ◽  
Afterschool Programs ◽  
Regular School ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
School Day

The National Association of School Nurses’ position statement clarifies the role of school nurses in afterschool activities is to assess, plan, and evaluate the health needs of students in programs that extend beyond the regular school day. School nurses leverage their expertise as trusted and caring providers to deliver health promotion education in the school setting. They can partner with afterschool programs to assess students’ healthy eating and physical activity. The purpose of this article is to describe an exemplar assessment of Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in one afterschool program and discuss approaches to address preventable factors associated with childhood obesity.

scholarly journals Prevention of Overweight and Hypertension through Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Extracurricular Sport Participation among South African Schoolchildren

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6581
Author(s):  
Siphesihle Nqweniso ◽  
Cheryl Walter ◽  
Rosa du Randt ◽  
Ann Aerts ◽  
Larissa Adams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
Prevention Of Hypertension ◽  
Cluster Randomized

Hypertension and overweight are growing public health concerns in school-aged children. We examined whether cardiorespiratory fitness and sport participation contribute to the prevention of hypertension and overweight. We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial with 853 children aged 8–13 years in eight primary schools in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Cardiorespiratory fitness, sport participation, body mass index, and blood pressure were assessed at baseline and after a physical activity intervention, which took place at two time-points (July–September 2015 and February–April 2016) for 10 weeks each. Mixed logistic regressions were employed to analyze the data. At baseline, 18.8% of the children were classified as overweight/obese and 13.5% as hypertensive. High cardiorespiratory fitness and high sport participation were negatively associated with overweight/obesity, while high sport participation was associated with lower risk for hypertension. Longitudinally, normal weight children who initially had higher cardiorespiratory fitness showed less decrease in this variable, while those who participated in the physical activity intervention were less likely to become overweight/obese. High cardiorespiratory fitness and sport participation are linked with children’s weight status. Children who are fit and participate regularly in sport outside school hours are less likely to be hypertensive. Our findings highlight the importance of regular extracurricular physical activity and maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness levels.

scholarly journals Improving the Metabolic and Mental Health of Children with Obesity: A School-Based Nutrition Education and Physical Activity Intervention in Wuhan, China

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
Hong-jie Yu ◽  
Fang Li ◽  
Yong-feng Hu ◽  
Chang-feng Li ◽  
Shuai Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Plasma Glucose ◽  
Fasting Plasma Glucose ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Physical Activity Intervention ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
School Based ◽  
Fasting Plasma

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based nutrition education and physical activity intervention on cardiovascular risk profile and mental health outcomes among Chinese children with obesity. Two primary schools were randomly allocated to the control group (CG) and the intervention group (IG). We selected children with obesity from 1340 students in the third and fourth grades as participants. The IG received 8 months of nutrition education and physical activity intervention, while the CG was waitlisted. A generalized estimating equation model was applied to assess repeated variables over time. A total of 171 children with obesity (99 IG and 72 CG) aged 9.8 ± 0.7 years completed the post-intervention stage. Compared with baseline, significant reductions were observed within the IG for depression and fasting plasma glucose at post-intervention. After adjusting for confounders, group and time interaction effects showed that the IG achieved improvements in the risk of poor well-being (p = 0.051) and social anxiety (p = 0.029), had decreased diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.020) and fasting plasma glucose (p < 0.001), and had significantly increased high-density lipoprotein (p < 0.001) from baseline to post-intervention relative to the CG. The effects of school-based nutrition education and physical activity intervention on children with obesity are diverse, including not only the improvement of metabolic health but also mental health promotion.

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