scholarly journals Utilising active play in schools to improve physical activity and fundamental movement skills in Scottish children

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Movement ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
After School ◽  
Active Play ◽  
Movement Skills ◽  
Fundamental Movement Skills ◽  
Intensity Physical Activity ◽  
Total Body ◽  
School Period

It is widely accepted that children in Scotland, as in other high-income countries, are not engaging in sufficient moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), the consequences of which can be adverse for health and wellbeing. In this paper, it is contended that active play (a form of gross motor or total body movement in which children exert energy in a freely chosen, fun, and unstructured manner) has potential to redress this deficit in MVPA. This paper reflects on lessons learned from active play interventions in Scottish schools, providing recommendations for schools on how to encourage more active play. It is argued that promoting active play during school break times and in the after-school period, and participating in active play interventions are promising ways of increasing children’s MVPA and improving their fundamental movement skills.

scholarly journals Feasibility of the Go2Play Active Play intervention for increasing physical and social development in children with intellectual disabilities

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arlene McGarty ◽  
Nathalie Jones ◽  
Katie Rutherford ◽  
Sophie Westrop ◽  
Lara Sutherland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Intellectual Disabilities ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Motor Development ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Active Play ◽  
Play Intervention ◽  
Movement Skills ◽  
School Based ◽  
Fundamental Movement Skills

Abstract Introduction An active play is designed to increase children’s physical activity levels and fundamental movement skills through outdoor play and is well-suited to the needs of children with intellectual disabilities. However, no active play interventions have included children with intellectual disabilities. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of a school-based active play intervention for children with intellectual disabilities. Method Children aged 7–12 years who had intellectual disabilities and were independently ambulatory were eligible. This single-group 17-week intervention was implemented in two additional support needs schools. It consisted of a weekly 1-h active play session incorporating 30 min of structured games and 30 min of free play. Feasibility of recruitment/retention, adherence, and outcome measures were investigated. Outcome measures included school-based physical activity (ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer), fundamental movement skills (Test of Gross Motor Development-2), and social interactions (Playground Observation of Peer Engagement). Staff feedback was collected via open-ended questionnaire. Feasibility was investigated using descriptive statistics and questionnaire data analyzed using thematic analysis. Potential pre-post changes were investigated for school-based physical activity, fundamental movement skills, and social interactions using paired samples t tests. The progression criteria were (1) > 50% of eligible participants recruited, (2) > 50% of recruited participants retained, (3) > 50% of active play sessions spent in MVPA, and (4) > 50% of participants complete outcome measurements. Results All progression criteria were met. Recruitment and retention rates were 100% (n=21 participants). Intervention adherence was high, based on data from n=1 school, with 90% of participants attending all sessions. Measuring physical activity using accelerometry and fundamental movement skills using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 were feasible. The Playground Observation of Peer Engagement tool to measure social interactions was not feasible. The only significant increase post-intervention was for social interactions during structured play (pre–post mean difference: –1.46, 95% CI −1.99, −0.93). Staff feedback was positive with the intervention well received by schools and potential benefits post-intervention identified by teachers. Conclusion The Go2Play Active Play intervention is feasible for children with intellectual disabilities. Future research should further investigate feasibility and implementation on a larger scale using a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial. Trial registration ISRCTN registry: ISRCTN10277566.

scholarly journals Sex-Related Differences in the Association of Fundamental Movement Skills and Health and Behavioral Outcomes in Children

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Phillip J. Hill ◽  
Melitta A. McNarry ◽  
Leanne Lester ◽  
Lawrence Foweather ◽  
Lynne M. Boddy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sedentary Time ◽  
Behavioral Outcomes ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Movement Skills ◽  
Fundamental Movement Skills ◽  
Intensity Physical Activity ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Indirect Association ◽  
Vigorous Intensity

This study aimed to assess whether sex moderates the association of fundamental movement skills and health and behavioral outcomes. In 170 children (10.6 ±0.3 years; 98 girls), path analysis was used to assess the associations of fundamental movement skills (Get Skilled, Get Active) with perceived sports competence (Children and Youth—Physical Self-Perception Profile), time spent in vigorous-intensity physical activity, sedentary time, and body mass index z score. For boys, object control skill competence had a direct association with perceived sports competence (β = 0.39; 95% confidence interval, CI [0.21, 0.57]) and an indirect association with sedentary time, through perceived sports competence (β = −0.19; 95% CI [−0.09, −0.32]). No significant association was observed between fundamental movement skills and perceived sports competence for girls, although locomotor skills were found to predict vigorous-intensity physical activity (β = 0.18; 95% CI [0.08, 0.27]). Perceived sports competence was associated with sedentary time, with this being stronger for boys (β = −0.48; 95% CI [−0.64, −0.31]) than girls (β = −0.29; 95% CI [−0.39, −0.19]). The study supports a holistic approach to health-related interventions and highlights a key association of perceived sports competence and the time children spend sedentary.

scholarly journals A Qualitative Exploration of the “Critical Window”: Factors Affecting Australian Children’s After-School Physical Activity

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Megan Stanley ◽  
Kobie Boshoff ◽  
James Dollman
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
After School ◽  
Critical Window ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Children's Perceptions ◽  
Children’S Perceptions ◽  
Children’S Voices ◽  
School Period

Background:The after-school period is potentially a “critical window” for promoting physical activity in children. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore children’s perceptions of the factors influencing their engagement in physical activity during the after-school period as the first phase in the development of a questionnaire.Methods:Fifty-four South Australian children age 10−13 years participated in same gender focus groups. Transcripts, field notes, and activity documents were analyzed using content analysis. Through an inductive thematic approach, data were coded and categorized into perceived barriers and facilitators according to a social ecological model.Results:Children identified a number of factors, including safety in the neighborhood and home settings, distance to and from places, weather, availability of time, perceived competence, enjoyment of physical activity, peer influence, and parent influence. New insights into bullying and teasing by peers and fear of dangerous animals and objects were revealed by the children.Conclusions:In this study, hearing children’s voices allowed the emergence of factors which may not be exposed using existing surveys. These findings are grounded in children’s perceptions and therefore serve as a valuable contribution to the existing literature, potentially leading to improved intervention and questionnaire design.

The importance of diversified physical activities in early childhood for later fundamental movement skills and physical activity level: a seven-year longitudinal study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulina S. Melby ◽  
Peter Elsborg ◽  
Glen Nielsen ◽  
Rodrigo A. Lima ◽  
Peter Bentsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Physical Activities ◽  
School Intervention ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Life Course Perspective ◽  
Movement Skills ◽  
Fundamental Movement Skills ◽  
Daily Physical Activities

Abstract Background: Research indicates that childhood fundamental movement skills (FMS) can predict physical activity (PA) later in life and it has been argued that frequently engaging in a wide diversity of physical activities will eventually improve children’s FMS. However, no longitudinal or experimental studies have confirmed this hypothesis. The aims of this study are to investigate the longitudinal associations between diversified physical activities at age six and later FMS and PA (age nine and 13). Furthermore, we explore to what extent the longitudinal association between diversified physical activity and PA is mediated by FMS.Methods: Longitudinal data from the Copenhagen School Intervention Studywere used for this analysis, where 704 participated (69% response rate). Diversified physical activity (self-reported), FMS (The Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder battery of postural stability and locomotor skills) and PA (accelerometer) were assessed in the children at age six, age nine and age 13. A total of 991 participated in at least one of the measure years. Two structural equation models were constructed, with diversified physical activity at age six and FMS and PA at age nine as predictors of PA and FMS at age 13. Results: The data from both models demonstrated good model fit. Diversified physical activity at six years of age was significantly associated with physical activity and FMS at age 13, when adjusting for sex, age, intervention, weight, height, and previous levels of PA and FMS. Diversified physical activity at age six was also positively associated with PA and FMS at age nine, which were, in turn, positively related to PA at age 13 but to a lesser degree than diversified PA at age six. The association between diversified physical activity at age six and PA at age 13 was not mediated by FMS at age nine. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that diversified physical activity at age six is important for the development of FMS and PA in adolescence. Increasing the diversity of children’s daily physical activities, not only the amount and intensity, seems important for future PA behavior and thereby health promotion in a life course perspective.

scholarly journals Active Play in After-school Programmes: development of an intervention and description of a matched-pair cluster-randomised trial assessing physical activity play in after-school programmes

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. e016585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsti Riiser ◽  
Sølvi Helseth ◽  
Hanna Ellingsen ◽  
Bjørg Fallang ◽  
Knut Løndal
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
First Graders ◽  
Randomised Trial ◽  
Matched Pair ◽  
After School ◽  
Cluster Randomised Trial ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Active Play ◽  
Cluster Randomised

IntroductionInterventions delivered in after-school programmes (ASPs) have the potential to become a means of ensuring adequate physical activity among schoolchildren. This requires a motivational climate, allowing for self-determined play. If trained, ASP staff may represent a valuable resource for supporting such play. Increasing knowledge and supportive skills among ASP staff may also potentially increase their motivation for work. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of the ‘Active Play in ASP’ intervention, which aims to promote physical activity among first graders attending ASP, and to present a protocol for a matched-pair cluster-randomised trial to evaluate the intervention.Methods and analysisInformed by experiences from practice, evidence-based knowledge and theory, the intervention was developed in a stepwise process including focus group meetings and a small-scale pilot test. The intervention contains a course programme for ASP staff to increase their skills in how to support physical activity through play. In a cluster randomised controlled trial, the ASPs will be matched and randomly allocated to receive the 7-month intervention or to a control group. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, after 7 and 19 months. First graders attending the ASPs included are eligible. The primary outcome will be accelerometer-determined minutes in moderate to vigorous physical activity in the ASP. The study uses a mixed methods approach including observations and interviews to provide rich descriptions of the concept of children's physical activity in ASP. Moreover, the trial will assess whether the ASP staff benefits from participation in the intervention in terms of increased work motivation. Lastly, process evaluations of programme fidelity, satisfaction and suggestions on improvement will be performed.Ethics and disseminationThe study is approved by the Data Protection Official for Research (reference no 46008). Results will be presented in conferences and peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberClinical Trials (NCT02954614), pre-results.

scholarly journals Guidelines for physical activity and screen-time in the outside school hours childcare setting: a scoping review.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Virgara ◽  
Lucy K Lewis ◽  
Anna Phillips ◽  
Mandy Richardson ◽  
Carol A Maher
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Screen Time ◽  
Guideline Development ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
After School ◽  
Physical Activity Recommendations ◽  
Other World ◽  
Before School ◽  
School Period ◽  
School Care

Abstract Background: Globally millions of children attend outside school hours care. Children’s activity in this setting is critical to meeting daily physical activity recommendations. Guidelines are evidence-based statements intended to optimise practice. This study aimed to identify guidelines for physical activity and screen time for use in outside school hours care. Methods: Guidelines were identified by systematically searching Medline, Emcare, Embase, Scopus, ERIC, Sportsdiscus, TROVE, ProQuest, UpToDate, NICE, SIGN and Google in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Results were screened independently by two reviewers and data synthesized narratively. Results: Nine guideline documents were identified from grey literature only (n = 8 USA, n = 1 Canada). The guidelines focused predominantly on the after school care period (n = 9 vs n = 1 for the before-school period). All had recommendations for physical activity, whilst 7 also had screen time recommendations. The guidelines varied considerably in their physical activity and screen time recommendations, though taken together, they recommended > 30–60 minutes of MVPA and < 60 minutes of recreational screen time per session. All guidelines were developed by expert/stakeholder panels, but none followed rigorous guideline development methods. Conclusions: Limited published guidelines for physical activity and screen-time in outside school care exist. Guidelines designed with rigorous tools and for other world regions are warranted.

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