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

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.

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

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16101697 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (10) ◽

pp. 1697 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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“In my day…”- Parents’ Views on Children’s Physical Activity and Screen Viewing in Relation to Their Own Childhood

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph15112547 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. 2547 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Emma Solomon-Moore ◽

Lydia G. Emm-Collison ◽

Simon J. Sebire ◽

Zoi Toumpakari ◽

Janice L. Thompson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Outdoor Play ◽

Metabolic Risk ◽

Independent Mobility ◽

Neighbourhood Environment ◽

Innovative Strategies ◽

Telephone Interviews ◽

Screen Viewing ◽

The Social ◽

Children’S Physical Activity

Physical activity and screen viewing are associated with cardio-metabolic risk factors, psychological wellbeing, and academic performance among children. Across the last generation, children’s physical activity and screen viewing behaviours have changed, coinciding with changes to the home and neighbourhood environment. This study aimed to qualitatively explore parents’ views on their 8–9-year-old child’s childhood and how this compares to experiences from their own childhood, with a specific focus on physical activity and screen viewing behaviours. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 51 parents (mean age = 41.2 years, range 31.5 to 51.5 years), between July and October 2016. Inductive and deductive content analyses were used to explore parents’ perceptions of their child’s physical activity and screen viewing behaviours in comparison to their own childhood behaviours. Interview data revealed that compared to the relative freedom they recalled as children, parents restrict their children’s independent mobility and outdoor play due to concerns about safety. Despite their children having greater access to structured activities than they did as children, parents feel their children are “missing out,” and perceived their own childhood as better with regards to maximising independent and outdoor play and limiting screen viewing. Innovative strategies are needed to change the social norms surrounding children’s independent mobility and outdoor play.

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Factors influencing Cypriot children's physical activity levels

Sport Education and Society ◽

10.1080/1357332052000298839 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 101-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Constantinos A. Loucaides ◽

Sue M. Chedzoy

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Children’S Physical Activity

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The Intricacies of Children’s Physical Activity

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.1515/hukin-2015-0082 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 269-275 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

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.

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

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.4405 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e4405 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

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.

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Perceptions of Physical Activity Changes Due to COVID-19 Restrictions Among Women in the United Kingdom

Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal ◽

10.1123/wspaj.2020-0068 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Jacky J. Forsyth ◽

Lorna Makay ◽

Victoria Riley

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

United Kingdom ◽

Thematic Analysis ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Lifestyle Behaviors ◽

Home Life ◽

Safe Environment ◽

Telephone Interviews ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Active Lifestyles

The purpose of the current study was to explore, via interview, how and why women felt their physical activity levels and active lifestyles had been affected by COVID-19. Telephone interviews were conducted with 23 women, aged between 28 and 52 years from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds in the United Kingdom. Based on reflexive thematic analysis, the perceived reduction in exercise and the increase in sedentary behavior that many of these women experienced were felt to be a result of the physical restrictions imposed through gym and leisure-facility closure, the change in circumstance (both work and home life), the perceived risks associated with exercising during a pandemic, as well as a lack of peer support. In contrast, some women experienced increased opportunity and time to exercise, which they felt benefited their health. For any future pandemic-related restrictions, exercise practitioners should consider promoting exercise with others in a safe environment in order to ensure that women’s healthy exercise and lifestyle behaviors are maintained.

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Physical Activity in Preschool Children With the Transition to Outdoors

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.10.2.170 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 170-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

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.

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

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.2017-0296 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 54-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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.

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

British Journal of Visual Impairment ◽

10.1177/0264619618823822 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 108-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

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.

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