23 9-year-old children were observed for 14 weeks in a 1993 study. Classroom behaviour (i.e., task relevant behaviour on standardised seat work immediately before and after playtime) and playground behaviour (i.e., social and non-social exercise and sedentary behaviour) were observed. Time in classroom before playtime was manipulated so that there was a shorter and a longer confinement period. Results indicated that children were less attentive to seat work as a function of time and that longer confinement resulted in more exercise for boys and more social sedentary behaviour for girls. Social behaviour at playtime and post-playtime attention to seat work were significantly related.
Archive for category Playgrounds
133 boys and girls were studied for one year in sixth and seventh grade. Measures of children’s preference for the playground, the duration of their stay outdoors, and behaviors while outdoors were obtained through direct observational methods. Additionally, teachers’ rated children’s level of achievement, physical attractiveness, and facility in games. Results indicated that boys’, compared to girls’, preference to play outdoors existed only in sixth grade.
Physucal activity at 10 unrenovated and 10 renovated school playgrounds in Cleveland, OH were observed using SOPLAY. Each school was observed ten times for 90 min each time outside of school hours in 2005. This study suggests that playgrounds renovations may have the potential to increase the number of children utilizing the playground outside of school hours and may increase the proportion of children, especially boys, who are vigorously active.
22 parents and 17 carers participated in 9 focus groups. Participants were from lower socioeconomic status, and Middle-Eastern and Chinese communities in the Sydney (Australia) metropolitan region. Learn what they think and do about physical activity and screen time.
An independent study at the University of Cumbria in the US found that nine in every ten youngsters want to play video games at the same time as exercising. The games reduce the boredom of exercise. Fifty children aged 11 and 12 were asked to use exercise equipment combined with video games provided by a company called Gamercize. The children could play their games only while they maintained movement on the fitness machines. If they stopped exercising, the games paused.
The validity and reliability of an instrument to assess children’s outdoor play in various locations
Nov 27
The aim of this study was to develop and test the reliability and validity of survey items that examine the frequency with which primary school-aged children play in particular outdoor locations. Parents reported the number of days their child spent playing in specified outdoor locations (i.e., yard at home, own street/court/footpath, and park/playground). Results suggest that the survey was generally a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the frequency with which children play in particular locations especially at home or in the street.
A UK university lecturer has been given £5,000 to study the health benefits of the Nintendo Wii. Michael Duncan will work with schoolchildren for six weeks to see if the popular games console can improve fitness and tackle obesity.
Data from 130 schools and 16 471 students in Norway were obtained in 2004 through self-administered questionnaires to principals and students. Multilevel logistic regression models revealed that boys at secondary level with a larger number of outdoor facilities at school had 2.7 times and girls 2.9 times higher odds of being physically active compared with students at schools with fewer facilities.
Classification of pre-school children as physically active or not, based on a small set of questions, revealed significant associations with overweight/obesity and a motor test. Once further validated, this classification might provide a valuable tool to assess the impact of physical activity on the risk of childhood overweight and obesity.
To mark the beginning of International Walk to School month [1 – 31 October 2008], BMA Scotland has today (Wednesday 1 October) published a briefing paper highlighting the health and social benefits of encouraging children to have an active lifestyle. To get Scotland moving, the Scottish Government should: 1) Develop an effective strategy to encourage teenagers and young adults to take part in regular exercise 2) Encourage doctors to prescribe exercise for the overweight/obese (e.g. reduced cost/free access to local authority sports centres) 3) Improve access to subsidised sporting facilities for both children and parents. Easy access for those from lower socio-economic groups is particularly important 4) Take assertive action to improve communities and make them clean, safe and healthy for our children.