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Day J. The intensification of parenting and generational fracturing of spontaneous physical activity from childhood play in the United Kingdom. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2024; 46:153-171. [PMID: 37550844 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Despite an increased drive over the past two decades in Western societies to promote children's physically active play to improve their health, there are concerns that childhood has become less physically active. There are also fears that a previously naturally occurring aspect of childhood has become less authentically playful. Both trends highlight changes over time in the amount and type of play practiced by children and are often cited as consequences of generational shifts. Yet, research which analytically employs the concept of generation to connect changes to childhood with relevant social transformations is lacking. Inspired by Mannheim's conceptualisation of generations, this paper draws on life history interviews with 28 United Kingdom residents born between 1950 and 1994 to propose a fracturing of naturally occurring physical activity from childhood play. As shifts in childhood and parenting have become inextricably linked, this argument illustrates the impact of an intensification to parenting upon greater parental surveillance of increasingly organised forms of childhood physical activity at the expense of spontaneous play. Future physical activity policy should be sensitive to the social climate in which recommendations for children are made, as this places expectations upon parents due to how childhood is currently understood within neoliberal contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Day
- School of Health & Social Care, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
- Sport and Body Cultures Research Group, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, UK
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Moore A, Boyle B, Lynch H. Designing for inclusion in public playgrounds: a scoping review of definitions, and utilization of universal design. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2023; 18:1453-1465. [PMID: 35138989 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2021.2022788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Public playgrounds afford children and families important opportunities for outdoor play, social participation, and inclusion. Unfortunately, many children and families experience barriers to accessing, using, and being included in public playgrounds. Consequently, Universal Design (UD) is promoted for providing conceptual guidance for designing for inclusion in public playgrounds. However, a lack of research evidence means researchers have engaged in the ongoing interpretation of the UD concept and related non-discriminatory planning and design concepts. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine how UD, and related concepts, are used in peer-reviewed articles concerning public playgrounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS A scoping review was conducted in November 2019, which identified 15 peer-reviewed articles that met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS Analysis revealed that the terms UD, inclusive design, accessibility, and usability are all being used to describe non-discriminatory planning and design concepts arbitrarily and without regard for higher or lower order concepts. Two broad interpretations were evident: (a) UD is synonymous with accessibility for some, and (b) UD is a higher-order concept that goes beyond accessibility for others. Nevertheless, findings highlight the utility of UD in underpinning the design of public playgrounds in many developed countries; however, the concept requires further clarity and specificity as it pertains to playground design and more pertinently inclusion in outdoor play. CONCLUSIONS We argue for further conceptual refinement to consolidate the importance and future application of UD for Play (UDP) in the design of public playgrounds that promote outdoor play, social participation, and inclusion.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONMost peer-reviewed journal articles reviewed fail to define what is meant by the term Universal Design.Of those that do provide a definition, the outcome of inclusion in play, or the application of Universal Design to enable play in public playgrounds was unclear.Research to date has mostly focused on related concepts, including accessibility and usability, with less emphasis on Universal Design.Recommend a tailored perspective of Universal Design for Play (UDP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Moore
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Bryan Boyle
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Helen Lynch
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Chambers S, Smillie S, Watson N. Rethinking children's right to leisure during school holidays. ANNALS OF LEISURE RESEARCH 2023; 27:399-416. [PMID: 39006997 PMCID: PMC11244624 DOI: 10.1080/11745398.2023.2250473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Leisure and health are human rights that apply to both children and adults. Leisure can enhance health and enable people to participate fully in leisure activities. One of children's main opportunities for leisure is during school holidays. Little previous research has focused on this time in children's lives. This paper presents a review of the literature surrounding school holidays, providing a critique of educational and public health approaches that focus narrowly on children's future outcomes that may be associated with how they spend their time during these leisure periods. It argues that a more sociological understanding, rooted within child-centred approaches to leisure, provides the opportunity for children's agency, participation and citizenship to be investigated more fully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Chambers
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Susie Smillie
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Watson
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Einberg EL, Golsäter M, Clausson EK. Swedish schoolchildren's voices of health-promoting factors: a focus group study. Health Promot Int 2023; 38:daab176. [PMID: 34734263 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daab176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Children have the right to express their views on all issues related to their health and development. The aim was to explore health-promoting factors voiced by 8- to 12-year-old children, to determine how the children prioritize those factors and inform school personnel how to develop health-promoting approach based on those findings. Focus groups, with the use of photographs, were conducted with 15 children. A deductive content analysis was used, with overall results showing that health-promoting factors are meaningful relationships and recreational activities. The results add new perspectives to the earlier model of health-promoting factors. By highlighting children's experience of what promotes health, measures at the individual, group and community level can be adapted to children's priorities, based on their own needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Lena Einberg
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing and Integrated Health Sciences, CYPHISCO Research Group, Kristianstad University, SE-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden
| | - Marie Golsäter
- Department of Nursing, CHILD Research Group, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden
- Futurum-Academy for Health and Care, Region Jönköping County, Jönköping, Sweden and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Eva K Clausson
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing and Integrated Health Sciences, CYPHISCO Research Group, Kristianstad University, SE-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden
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Hazlehurst MF, Wolf KL, Simmons C, Nieto C, Steiner MK, Garrett KA, Faino AV, Ubalde López M, López-Toribio M, Tandon PS. Physical activity and social interaction assessments in schoolyard settings using the System for Observing Outdoor Play Environments in Neighborhood Schools (SOOPEN). Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2023; 20:94. [PMID: 37528409 PMCID: PMC10394799 DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01483-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The schoolyard environment provides key opportunities to promote physical activity and socioemotional development for children. Schoolyards can also serve as a community park resource outside of school hours. We aimed to: (i) implement and evaluate reliability of the System for Observing Outdoor Play Environments in Neighborhood Schools (SOOPEN), (ii) assess schoolyard use by children during recess and community members of all ages outside of school hours, and (iii) investigate relationships of schoolyard and children´s group characteristics with physical activity levels and prosocial interactions. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, we observed student and community visitor behavior using SOOPEN at three urban elementary schoolyards in Tacoma, Washington, USA, prior to renovations intended to expand each facility's use as a community park in neighborhoods with poor park access. We assessed interrater reliability using intraclass correlation coefficients and described current levels of schoolyard use (at the group level), physical activity, and prosocial behavior. Physical activity was assessed on a five-point scale and dichotomized to indicate moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Social interactions were coded as prosocial, antisocial, or neutral. We examined associations of selected schoolyard features and group characteristics with group MVPA and prosocial behavior during recess using modified Poisson regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS We observed a total of 981 activity-defined, informal groups in the schoolyards, and achieved good to excellent interrater reliability using SOOPEN. Community use of the schoolyards during evenings and weekends was limited (n = 56 groups). During 26, 25-50 min recess periods (n = 833 groups), 19% of groups were engaged in MVPA. Schoolyard areas with paved surfaces were associated with more MVPA (PR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.23) compared to field/grass areas; supervised groups were associated with less MVPA than groups not directly supervised by an adult (PR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.96). Schoolyard characteristics were not associated with prosocial behavior. Mixed-gender groups were associated with more MVPA and more prosocial behavior. CONCLUSIONS Our study using SOOPEN, a reliable new activity observation tool, highlights the multi-dimensional dynamics of physical activity and social interactions in schoolyards, which could be leveraged to promote healthy behaviors during and outside of school hours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marnie F Hazlehurst
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kathleen L Wolf
- College of the Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Anna V Faino
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mònica Ubalde López
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health-ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research Network in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María López-Toribio
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pooja S Tandon
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Gemmell E, Ramsden R, Brussoni M, Brauer M. Influence of Neighborhood Built Environments on the Outdoor Free Play of Young Children: a Systematic, Mixed-Studies Review and Thematic Synthesis. J Urban Health 2023; 100:118-150. [PMID: 36534228 PMCID: PMC9762660 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-022-00696-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Urban environments shape early childhood exposures, experiences, and health behaviors, including outdoor free play, influencing the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of young children. We examined evidence for urban or suburban built environment influences on outdoor free play in 0-6-year-olds, considering potential differences across gender, culture, and geography. We systematically searched seven literature databases for relevant qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies: of 5740 unique studies, 53 met inclusion criteria. We assessed methodological quality and thematically synthesized findings from included studies. Three broad themes, features of spaces for play, routes, and social factors intersected to influence the availability, accessibility, and acceptability of neighborhoods for young children's outdoor free play across diverse cultural and geographic contexts. Proximity to formal or informal space for play, protection from traffic, pedestrian environment, green and natural environments, and opportunity for social connection supported outdoor free play. Family and community social context influenced perceptions of and use of space; however, we did not find consistent, gendered differences in built environment correlates of outdoor free play. Across diverse contexts, playable neighborhoods for young children provided nearby space for play, engaging routes protected from traffic and facilitated frequent interaction between people, nature, and structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Gemmell
- School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Rachel Ramsden
- School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
- Human Early Learning Partnership, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Mariana Brussoni
- School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
- Human Early Learning Partnership, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Colubmia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Michael Brauer
- School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Chau JY, Dharmayani PNA, Little H. Navigating Neighbourhood Opposition and Climate Change: Feasibility and Acceptability of a Play Street Pilot in Sydney, Australia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:2476. [PMID: 36767843 PMCID: PMC9916153 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20032476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Play Streets are community-led initiatives that provide opportunities for outdoor play and recreation when parks or other facilities may not be easily accessible. This pragmatic evaluation aims to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a pilot Play Street in Inner West Sydney. METHODS We used a post-only mixed methods design. Brief intercept surveys with pilot Play Street visitors assessed their reasons for attending the event and perceptions thereof. Semi-structured interviews explored stakeholders' experiences related to planning and implementing Play Streets. RESULTS Approximately 60 adults and children attended the pilot Play Street. The majority of survey respondents (n = 32) were female, aged 35-54, lived in the Play Street's postcode, and visited in groups consisting of adults and children. Overall respondents rated the pilot positively in enjoyment (100%), safety (97%), and organisation (81%), although there were significant differences between certain demographic subgroups in the perception of organisation and the children's enjoyment of the pilot Play Street. Stakeholder interviews (n = 2) highlighted the importance of community consultation and reaching compromises, noting concerns about safety and insurance costs, and emphasised the role of Council as a facilitator to help residents take ownership of Play Streets. Delays due to community concerns, poor air quality arising from bushfires, heavy rain on the event day, and COVID-19 lockdowns hindered pilot Play Street implementation and evaluation. CONCLUSION This pilot demonstrated that Play Streets are a feasible and acceptable way to use streets as outdoor recreation spaces in Sydney's Inner West. The evaluation highlights two elements for future sustainability: managing neighbourhood opposition and adapting to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Y. Chau
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Putu Novi Arfirsta Dharmayani
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Helen Little
- School of Education, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia
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Giblin S, Scully P, Dalton N, Connolly M, McCaffrey A, Sheikhi A, Neylon O, O'Gorman C. Parent and child perceptions of physical activity with type 1 diabetes. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 2022; 10:10/6/e002977. [PMID: 36414272 PMCID: PMC9685260 DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2022-002977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong illness that affects over 2500 children in Ireland. Management involves complex daily regimens including frequent blood glucose monitoring, pharmacotherapy, dietary management, and physical activity (PA). PA is an important modifiable lifestyle factor. Unfortunately, children with T1D remain physically inactive. Children with T1D face disease-specific barriers and facilitators to PA engagement. All aspects of T1D management for children are supported or supervised by parents. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine parents' and children's perceptions of barriers and facilitators to PA engagement. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS 43 parent and child dyads participated. Parents completed a self-report survey. Children completed a modified version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) that explored habitual PA patterns, perceived facilitators and barriers to PA engagement. RESULTS 21 females, 22 males and their parents (36 mothers, 7 fathers) participated. 69% of males and 90% of females reported that having diabetes did affect their PA participation. 54% of males and 48% of females were insufficiently active based on their total PAQ-C score (<2.9 and <2.7). 53% of parents reported that their children participated in school physical education. 21% of parents reported that their child did not participate in PA outside of the school setting. 23% of parents reported that they did not feel comfortable with their child participating in strenuous PA. A further 30% of parents reported that they only felt comfortable with their child participating in strenuous PA if supervised. 66% of parents reported their child should be more physically active. 83% of parents reported that having T1D did impact their child's PA level. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the potential influence of parents' perceptions on PA engagement in children with T1D. Additional education is needed to support the promotion of PA for children with T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Giblin
- School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Paul Scully
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Niall Dalton
- Department of Paediatric Medicine, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Muiriosa Connolly
- Department of Paediatric Medicine, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Alison McCaffrey
- Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Ali Sheikhi
- School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Orla Neylon
- Department of Paediatric Medicine, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Clodagh O'Gorman
- Department of Paediatric Medicine, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
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Oliver BE, Nesbit RJ, McCloy R, Harvey K, Dodd HF. Parent perceived barriers and facilitators of children's adventurous play in Britain: a framework analysis. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:636. [PMID: 35365107 PMCID: PMC8976306 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13019-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND From a public health perspective there is growing interest in children's play, including play involving risk and adventure, in relation to children's physical and mental health. Regarding mental health, it is theorised that adventurous play, where children experience thrilling, exciting emotions, offers important learning opportunities that prepare children for dealing with uncertainty and help prevent anxiety. Despite these benefits, adventurous play has decreased substantially within a generation. Parents have a key role in facilitating or limiting children's opportunities for adventurous play, but research identifying the barriers and facilitators parents perceive in relation to adventurous play is scarce. The present study therefore examined the barriers to and facilitators of adventurous play as perceived by parents of school-aged children in Britain. METHODS This study analysed data from a subsample of parents in Britain (n = 377) who participated in the nationally representative British Children's Play Survey. Parents responded to two open-ended questions pertaining to the barriers to and facilitators of children's adventurous play. Responses were analysed using a qualitative Framework Analysis, an approach suitable for managing large datasets with specific research questions. RESULTS Four framework categories were identified: Social Environment; Physical Environment; Risk of Injury; Child Factors. Social Environment included barriers and facilitators related to parents, family and peers, as well as community and society. Dominant themes within the Social Environment related to perceptions about the certainty of child safety, such as supervision and the safety of society. Beliefs about the benefits of adventurous play for development and well-being were also important in the Social Environment. Physical Environment factors focused on safety and practical issues. Risk of Injury captured concerns about children being injured during play. Child Factors included child attributes, such as play preference, developmental ability and trait-like characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Improved understanding of what influences parent perceptions of adventurous play can inform public health interventions designed to improve children's opportunities for and engagement in adventurous play, with a view to promote children's physical and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke E Oliver
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Rachel J Nesbit
- Children and Young People's Mental Health (ChYMe), College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Rachel McCloy
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Kate Harvey
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Helen F Dodd
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK. .,Children and Young People's Mental Health (ChYMe), College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
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Lourenço A, Martins F, Pereira B, Mendes R. Children Are Back to School, but Is Play Still in Lockdown? Play Experiences, Social Interactions, and Children's Quality of Life in Primary Education in the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312454. [PMID: 34886177 PMCID: PMC8656927 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The right to play is crucial for the overall development of children. Several studies highlight the need to have time and space to play, especially at school where children spend much of their time. Unfortunately, in formal education the obsession with academic achievements sidelines and ignores the importance of play. The neglection of play had already reached a critical stage before the pandemic, so data are needed to realize how the right to play in school is presently affected. This paper aims to understand children’s play experience in primary education during the pandemic. It investigates what activities children participated in and what materials were used, and provides insight into the social interactions between peers. Furthermore, children’s quality of life is explored. A group of 370 Portuguese children answered a questionnaire on play and social interactions, alongside with Peds 4.0TM on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The results showed that recess still emerges as a significant element of children’s daily lives, but COVID-19 has brought limitations on play experiences and peer-interaction. It might also have impacted HRQOL, especially in emotional functioning. Since play, health and well-being are closely connected, play opportunities at school are crucial in helping children to thrive in the pandemic, and should be invested in.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lourenço
- Research Centre on Child Studies, Institute of Education (CIEC-IE), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
- Play Activity Department, Child Support Institute (IAC), 1050-185 Lisbon, Portugal
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +351-963-274-861
| | - Fernando Martins
- UNICID-Applied Sport Sciences Research Unit (ASSERT), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, 3030-329 Coimbra, Portugal; (F.M.); (R.M.)
- Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, IIA, ROBOCORP, 3030-329 Coimbra, Portugal
- Instituto de Telecomunicações, Delegação da Covilhã, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Beatriz Pereira
- Research Centre on Child Studies, Institute of Education (CIEC-IE), University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
| | - Rui Mendes
- UNICID-Applied Sport Sciences Research Unit (ASSERT), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, 3030-329 Coimbra, Portugal; (F.M.); (R.M.)
- Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, IIA, ROBOCORP, 3030-329 Coimbra, Portugal
- CIDAF, FCDEF, University of Coimbra, 3040-248 Coimbra, Portugal
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Perceived Barriers and Facilitators of Adventurous Play in Schools: A Qualitative Systematic Review. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8080681. [PMID: 34438572 PMCID: PMC8392663 DOI: 10.3390/children8080681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Adventurous play, defined as exciting, thrilling play where children are able to take age-appropriate risks, has been associated with a wide range of positive outcomes. Despite this, it remains unclear what factors might aid or hinder schools in offering adventurous play opportunities. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesise findings from qualitative studies on the perceived barriers and facilitators of adventurous play in schools. A total of nine studies were included in the final synthesis. The review used two synthesis strategies: a meta-aggregative synthesis and narrative synthesis. Findings were similar across the two syntheses, highlighting that key barriers and facilitators were: adults’ perceptions of children; adults’ attitudes and beliefs about adventurous play and concerns pertaining to health and safety, and concerns about legislation. Based on the findings of the review, recommendations for policy and practice are provided to support adventurous play in schools.
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Development and evaluation of a new measure of children's play: the Children's Play Scale (CPS). BMC Public Health 2021; 21:878. [PMID: 33962587 PMCID: PMC8103430 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10812-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is increasing recognition of the importance of children’s play from a public health perspective, given the links between play and children’s physical and mental health. The present research aimed to develop and evaluate a new parent-report questionnaire that measures the time children spend playing across a range of places and includes a supplement to evaluate how adventurously children play. Methods The questionnaire was developed with input from a diverse group of parents and experts in children’s play. It was designed to yield a range of metrics including time spent playing per year, time spent playing outside, time spent playing in nature and level of adventurous play. The reliability of the questionnaire was then evaluated with 245 parents (149 mothers, 96 fathers) of 154 children aged 5–11 years. All participants completed the measure at time 1. At time 2, an average of 20 days later, 184 parents (111 mothers and 73 fathers) of 99 children completed the measure again. Results Cross-informant agreement, evaluated using Concordance Correlation Coefficients (CCCs), ranged from 0.36 to 0.51. These fall in the poor to moderate range and are largely comparable to cross-informant agreement on other measures. Test-retest reliability for mothers was good (range 0.67–0.76) for time spent playing metrics. For fathers, test-retest reliability was lower (range 0.39–0.63). For both parents the average level of adventurous play variable had relatively poor test retest reliability (mothers = 0.49, fathers = 0.42). This variable also showed a significant increase from time 1 to time 2. This instability over time may be due to the timing of the research in relation to the Covid-19 lockdown and associated shifts in risk perception. Conclusions The measure will be of value in future research focusing on the public health benefits and correlates of children’s play as well as researchers interested in children’s outdoor play and play in nature specifically. The development of the measure in collaboration with parents and experts in children’s play is a significant strength. It will be of value for future research to further validate the measure against play diaries or activity monitors. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-10812-x.
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Children's Play and Independent Mobility in 2020: Results from the British Children's Play Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18084334. [PMID: 33923860 PMCID: PMC8073813 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18084334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The British Children’s Play Survey was conducted in April 2020 with a nationally representative sample of 1919 parents/caregivers with a child aged 5–11 years. Respondents completed a range of measures focused on children’s play, independent mobility and adult tolerance of and attitudes towards risk in play. The results show that, averaged across the year, children play for around 3 h per day, with around half of children’s play happening outdoors. Away from home, the most common places for children to play are playgrounds and green spaces. The most adventurous places for play were green spaces and indoor play centres. A significant difference was found between the age that children were reported to be allowed out alone (10.74 years; SD = 2.20 years) and the age that their parents/caregivers reported they had been allowed out alone (8.91 years; SD = 2.31 years). A range of socio-demographic factors were associated with children’s play. There was little evidence that geographical location predicted children’s play, but it was more important for independent mobility. Further, when parents/caregivers had more positive attitudes around children’s risk-taking in play, children spent more time playing and were allowed to be out of the house independently at a younger age.
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Loebach J, Sanches M, Jaffe J, Elton-Marshall T. Paving the Way for Outdoor Play: Examining Socio-Environmental Barriers to Community-Based Outdoor Play. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18073617. [PMID: 33807263 PMCID: PMC8037806 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Outdoor play and independent, neighborhood activity, both linked with healthy childhood development, have declined dramatically among Western children in recent decades. This study examines how social, cultural and environmental factors may be hindering children’s outdoor and community-based play. A comprehensive survey was completed by 826 children (aged 10–13 years) and their parents from 12 schools (four each urban, suburban and rural) from a large county in Ontario, Canada. Five multilevel regression models, controlling for any school clustering effect, examined associations between outdoor play time per week and variable sets representing five prevalent factors cited in the literature as influencing children’s outdoor play (OP). Models predicted that younger children and boys were more likely to spend time playing outdoors; involvement in organized physical activities, other children nearby to play with, higher perception of benefits of outdoor play, and higher parental perceptions of neighborhood social cohesion also predicted more time in outdoor play. Time outdoors was less likely among children not allowed to play beyond home without supervision, felt they were ‘too busy’ with screen-based activities, and who reported higher fears related to playing outdoors. Study findings have important implications for targeting environmental, cultural and policy changes to foster child-friendly communities which effectively support healthy outdoor play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Loebach
- Department of Design + Environmental Analysis, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, NY 14853, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Marcos Sanches
- Krembli Centre for Neuroinformatics, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, London, ON N6G 4X8, Canada;
| | - Julia Jaffe
- Department of Design + Environmental Analysis, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, NY 14853, USA;
| | - Tara Elton-Marshall
- Centre for Addiction and Mental, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, London, ON N6G 4X8, Canada;
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Toronto, ON M5S 2S1, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
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Parent N, Guhn M, Brussoni M, Almas A, Oberle E. Social determinants of playing outdoors in the neighbourhood: family characteristics, trust in neighbours and daily outdoor play in early childhood. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH = REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE 2021; 112:120-127. [PMID: 32757122 PMCID: PMC7851233 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-020-00355-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to investigate socio-demographic and contextual factors in relation to the frequency of outdoor play in the neighbourhood in early childhood, drawing from a large sample of children in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS Parents/caregivers of 2280 4- to 5-year-old children completed the Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (CHEQ) in 2018. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict the likelihood of children participating in everyday outdoor play in their neighbourhood based on the child's gender, family ethnicity (i.e., European origin vs. other), household income (i.e., less vs. equal/more than CDN$75,000), population centre (i.e., urban vs. rural) and parent's trust in neighbours (i.e., trusting vs. not trusting neighbours to look out for children). RESULTS Thirty-five percent of children in this study met recommendations of playing outdoors every day. Children whose parents perceived strong trust in neighbours were twice as likely to play outdoors in their neighbourhood every day, when compared with those whose parents perceived low trust in neighbours. Additionally, children from families with higher incomes (equal/more than $75,000) were significantly more likely to play outdoors daily than those with lower incomes, but only if they resided in rural areas. Last, children with European family backgrounds were 64% more likely to play outdoors every day compared with those with non-European backgrounds. CONCLUSION Findings from this study contribute to an emerging body of work examining socio-economic, demographic and contextual factors associated with children meeting the recommendations for everyday outdoor play in their neighbourhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Parent
- Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education, The University of British Columbia, 2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Martin Guhn
- School of Population and Public Health, The Human Early Learning Partnership, The University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Mariana Brussoni
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia, F511 - 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, F511 - 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada
- BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit, F511 - 4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3V4, Canada
| | - Alisa Almas
- School of Population and Public Health, The Human Early Learning Partnership, The University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Eva Oberle
- School of Population and Public Health, The Human Early Learning Partnership, The University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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Farbo DJ, Rhea DJ. A Pilot Study Examining Body Composition Classification Differences Between Body Mass Index and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Children With High Levels of Physical Activity. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:724053. [PMID: 34869095 PMCID: PMC8634703 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.724053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Body mass index (BMI) is frequently labeled as "flawed" in assessing obesity since it cannot differentiate between muscle and fat leading to misclassifications of healthy individuals. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) may be a more accurate indicator of obesity since it can distinguish the difference between muscle and fat in children. This pilot study investigated discrepancies between BMI and BIA body composition classifications in children with high levels of physical activity. Methods: Participants were selected from three elementary schools (N = 380, K = 76, 1st = 64, 2nd = 62, 3rd = 61, 4th = 83, and 5th = 34) receiving 60 min of outdoor, unstructured play daily. BIA scales were used to collect each child's body fat percentage and BMI score, then those numbers were categorized by BIA and BMI normative values as either underweight, healthy, overweight, or obese. Results: Overall, 26% of the students were classified differently when using the normative classifications for BMI and BIA, with the largest discrepancy found in the overweight category at 38%. Similar inconsistencies were found when students were divided as younger (42%) vs older students (36%), and males (40%) vs. females (35%). Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated that there is a significant difference in how BMI and BIA discriminate between the different body composition categories. BIA consistently shows to be a more accurate tool in assessing obesity rates in children since it directly measures body fat.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Farbo
- Department of Kinesiology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Deborah J Rhea
- Department of Kinesiology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, United States
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Moore A, Lynch H, Boyle B. Can universal design support outdoor play, social participation, and inclusion in public playgrounds? A scoping review. Disabil Rehabil 2020; 44:3304-3325. [PMID: 33300821 DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1858353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To synthesize evidence regarding the physical design features and non-physical aspects of public playgrounds that facilitate/hinder outdoor play, social participation, and inclusion; identify design recommendations; and explore the current discourses and concepts around designing for outdoor play, social participation, and inclusion in public playgrounds in the context of Universal Design (UD). METHODS Published studies addressing public playgrounds, inclusion, and design, were identified via a systematic search of eleven databases from health, science, education, and humanities. RESULTS Fifteen documents met the inclusion criteria. Three main themes were identified concerning physical design features and non-physical aspects of public playgrounds that facilitate/hinder outdoor play, social participation, and inclusion, with associated design recommendations. Although UD is recognized to have the potential to support the design of public playgrounds, no studies examined UD solutions for playgrounds or tested them for effectiveness. CONCLUSION We cannot yet determine whether UD can support outdoor play, social participation, and inclusion in public playgrounds. Research to date has mostly focused on understanding users' perspectives; future research should continue to be informed by diverse users' perspectives to address gaps in knowledge concerning children's voice from migrants, lower socioeconomic communities, and intergenerational users with disabilities alongside researching design solutions for play.Implications for rehabilitationChildren, particularly children with disabilities and their families, continue to experience marginalization and exclusion in public playgrounds, despite a commitment to inclusion in international treaties.Universal design is recognized to have the potential to support the design of public playgrounds, however, the evidence is currently very sparse.While accessibility is an important consideration for playground design, it does not ensure that play occupations can take place.Extending knowledge on universal design as it applies explicitly to playgrounds and play occupation requires multi- and trans-disciplinary collaboration that includes a play-centered perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Moore
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Helen Lynch
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Bryan Boyle
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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Clausen LT, Schmidt C, Aagaard-Hansen J, Reinbach HC, Toft U, Bloch P. Children as visionary change agents in Danish school health promotion. Health Promot Int 2020; 34:e18-e27. [PMID: 30124857 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/day049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper describes children's perceptions and visions for a healthier social and physical environment in the setting of a primary school on the Danish island of Bornholm. Guided by an everyday-life perspective and applying participatory action research methods including social imagination and visual techniques within the framework of future creating workshops, the study engaged 50 children aged 6-9 years in creative processes of identifying health-related problem areas and solutions in their school setting. The study observed that the children were very capable of articulating their thoughts, ideas and visions for a better and healthier school environment. Identified problem areas and solutions differed widely and represented a broad perspective of health including social, physical, environmental and emotional aspects. The paper discusses advantages and challenges of involving children in decision-making processes and concludes that children are visionary and creative agents of change in health promotion projects provided that applied participatory methods are appealing to the children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jens Aagaard-Hansen
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Health Promotion, Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark.,University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, MRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Ulla Toft
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Capital Region, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Paul Bloch
- Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Health Promotion, Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Sowing Seeds to Harvest Healthier Adults: The Working Principles and Impact of Participatory Health Research with Children in a Primary School Context. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17020451. [PMID: 32284518 PMCID: PMC7014369 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17020451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Participatory research on health-related topics with children is promising but current literature offers limited guidance on how to involve children and falls short on the reporting impact. The purpose of this article is to heighten our understanding of the working principles and impact of participatory health research (PHR) with children. We completed a PHR project in two primary schools, which included children from a multiethnic, deprived neighborhood in the second largest city in The Netherlands over a period of three school years (2016–2019). The impact on the children’s subjective health has been measured via process evaluation using qualitative and quantitative methods from the perspectives of all involved (children, their teachers, parents, and community partners). The main working principles included: Experiential learning; addressing uncomfortable issues; stepping outside your environment; and keeping it simple. Participatory actions valued most by the children included: Walking tours, photovoice, foodlabs, sportlabs, and to a lesser extent: Making a newspaper, mindfulness, and Capoeira. The project reached and engaged many children, parents, teachers, and community partners into healthy lifestyles and broadened and deepened the children’s awareness and understanding of health behavior. ‘Sowing seeds’ is the metaphor that captures the broader impact of this project: Planting seeds to harvest healthier adults.
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Sterman JJ, Naughton GA, Bundy AC, Froude E, Villeneuve MA. Mothers supporting play as a choice for children with disabilities within a culturally and linguistically diverse community. Scand J Occup Ther 2019; 27:373-384. [PMID: 31703170 DOI: 10.1080/11038128.2019.1684556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: Play is a right for children; an essential childhood occupation influenced by their family environment. Despite increasing recognition of unstructured outdoor play benefits, children with disabilities experience limited play opportunities.Aim: To apply a capabilities approach lens to understand outdoor play decision-making by mothers of children with disabilities within a culturally and linguistically diverse community.Materials and methods: Data collection for this case study involved semi-structured interviews with five mothers of primary school-aged children with disabilities and a week-long survey that profiled their children's outdoor play. Analysis was thematic and involved identifying barriers and opportunities at each ecocultural layer, aggregating strategies families used to address the barriers, and understanding their overall play decision-making.Findings: Mothers considered the child's interests and abilities, valued play as both a means and ends, planned for play, and facilitated in the moment as required. Multiple factors influenced mothers' outdoor play decisions. Mothers' values were child-centred, positively influencing the child's play opportunities.Conclusion and significance: This study's capabilities lens could inform professions such as occupational therapy to support families of children with disabilities from culturally diverse communities to advocate for play opportunities across settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia J Sterman
- Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.,Centre for Disability Research and Policy, Faculty of Health Science, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia
| | | | - Anita C Bundy
- Centre for Disability Research and Policy, Faculty of Health Science, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia.,Faculty of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Elspeth Froude
- School of Allied Health, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, Australia
| | - Michelle A Villeneuve
- Centre for Disability Research and Policy, Faculty of Health Science, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Australia
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21
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Gerlach AJ, Jenkins E, Hodgson K. Disrupting assumptions of risky play in the context of structural marginalization: A community engagement project in a Canadian inner-city neighbourhood. Health Place 2018; 55:80-86. [PMID: 30503682 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alison J Gerlach
- School of Child & Youth Care, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Road, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8P 5C2.
| | - Emily Jenkins
- School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, T201-2211 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 2B6.
| | - Kate Hodgson
- Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre, 920 East Hastings, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6A 3T1.
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22
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Ryan R, Hosking J, Wilkinson-Meyers L, Ameratunga S. Children's perceptions of a 'self-explaining road' intervention to improve neighbourhood safety. J Paediatr Child Health 2018; 54:365-369. [PMID: 29090864 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.13776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM Safe neighbourhood environments can provide important spaces for child activity and well-being. Self-explaining roads (SERs), which reduce vehicle speeds by changing neighbourhood street design, are an intervention with known safety benefits. However, little is known about children's experiences of SERs. METHODS We engaged schoolchildren in developing a project to articulate children's perspectives of SERs. Students actively researched the experiences of other children at their school, and then participated in a researcher-led focus group. RESULTS Children emphasised safer spaces for play as an important benefit of SERs. As well as using new designated play spaces adjoining footpaths, children also felt the roadway became safer, and more fun for cycling. In contrast, children reported that parents held mainly negative views of SERs, considering them annoying and inconvenient. CONCLUSION From children's perspective, SERs can provide safe spaces for neighbourhood play, despite limited parental support. Potential benefits for children as well as established safety benefits should inform future implementation of SERs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Ryan
- Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jamie Hosking
- Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Laura Wilkinson-Meyers
- Health Systems, School of Population Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Shanthi Ameratunga
- Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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McNamara L, Colley P, Franklin N. School recess, social connectedness and health: a Canadian perspective. Health Promot Int 2017; 32:392-402. [PMID: 26497586 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/dav102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Children need opportunities to establish positive social connections at school, yet many school playgrounds are challenged by social conflict that can undermine these connections. When children's social needs go unmet, the resultant feelings of loneliness, isolation and self-doubt can cumulatively lead to mental and physical illness. Because recess is typically the only time during the school day that children are free to socialize and play, we propose a more thoughtful way of thinking about it: from the lens of belongingness. Schools are, historically, designed for instruction. We argue, however, that we need to attend to children's social needs at school. We highlight current research from social neuroscience, belonging and social connectedness in order to delineate the pathways between daily school recess and developmental health trajectories. We then consolidate an array of research on play, social interaction and school change to suggest four areas that could benefit from consideration in research, practice and policy: (i) the culture of recess, (ii) the importance of healthy role models on the playground, (iii) the necessity of activities, options and variety during recess and (iv) the significance of space and spatial layout (indoor and outdoor). We bridge our discussion with the conception of health as described in the Ottawa Charter and emphasize the need to build alliances across sectors to assist schools in their efforts to support children's overall health needs.
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Cortinez-O'Ryan A, Albagli A, Sadarangani KP, Aguilar-Farias N. Reclaiming streets for outdoor play: A process and impact evaluation of "Juega en tu Barrio" (Play in your Neighborhood), an intervention to increase physical activity and opportunities for play. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180172. [PMID: 28671984 PMCID: PMC5495338 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background New strategies are required to create supportive physical and social environments for children and promote active free-play. Juega en tu Barrio (JETB; Play in your Neighborhood) was designed and implemented to explore the effectiveness of closing a street in a low-to-middle income neighborhood in order to increase children’s outside play and physical activity. Methods A pretest-posttest design with control group was employed to investigate the intervention effects in a subsample of 100 children, 51 from the intervention neighborhood and 49 from the control neighborhood. The children wore pedometers for one week, and their parents completed questionnaires at two time points: before the intervention began and during the last two weeks of the intervention. JETB was conducted in the intervention neighborhood from 17:30 to 20:30, twice a week, from September to December 2014. Stewards ensured that the children were safe. Children and adults were assessed using systematic observation. Results The intervention and control neighborhoods included 177 and 116 children respectively. The average attendance per event was 60 children (SD = 22, reach 34%). In the intervention neighborhood, a significant increase between baseline and final assessment was observed in after-school outdoor playtime (p = 0.02), steps during the 3-hour intervention (p = 0.004), and daily steps Monday to Sunday (p = 0.006). Meanwhile, no changes were observed in the control neighborhood for the same variables. The proportion of children who met recommended daily step counts increased from 27.5% to 53.0% in the intervention neighborhood (p = 0.007), while for control neighborhood no difference was observed (49.0% to 53.0% p = 0.804). Conclusions JETB showed high community engagement while offering opportunities for increased outdoor play in children. The intervention showed a significant effect on the number of children meeting the daily pedometer-derived physical activity recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cortinez-O'Ryan
- Department of Physical Education, Sports and Recreation, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | | | - Kabir P Sadarangani
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Sebastian, Santiago, Chile.,Department of Physical Education, Sport and Human Movement, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nicolas Aguilar-Farias
- Department of Physical Education, Sports and Recreation, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
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Abstract
Youth with type 1 diabetes are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease, and regular physical activity is strongly recommended as one strategy for prevention, as well as for good glycemic control. Despite recommendations, families in this pediatric population face unique barriers to physical activity, including fear of hypoglycemia. Moreover, families are not routinely counseled in the specific health and psychosocial benefits of following physical activity recommendations for youth with type 1 diabetes. To bridge this gap, the recent literature regarding physical activity in children with type 1 diabetes is reviewed with particular focus on young children. A discussion of the limitations of the current body of research, and recommendations for objectively measured physical activity are provided. Specific recommendations for clinical practice are given, including provider endorsements for regular physical activity for longer than 60 minutes, at least three times a week.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie Tully
- Center for Translational Research, Children's National Medical Center, 111 N. Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA.
| | - Laura Aronow
- Center for Translational Research, Children's National Medical Center, 111 N. Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
| | - Eleanor Mackey
- Center for Translational Research, Children's National Medical Center, 111 N. Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Randi Streisand
- Center for Translational Research, Children's National Medical Center, 111 N. Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
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Pesce C, Leone L, Motta A, Marchetti R, Tomporowski PD. From Efficacy to Effectiveness of a “Whole Child” Initiative of Physical Activity Promotion. TRANSLATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SPORTS MEDICINE 2016. [DOI: 10.1249/tjx.0000000000000002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Pesce C, Masci I, Marchetti R, Vazou S, Sääkslahti A, Tomporowski PD. Deliberate Play and Preparation Jointly Benefit Motor and Cognitive Development: Mediated and Moderated Effects. Front Psychol 2016; 7:349. [PMID: 27014155 PMCID: PMC4786558 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In light of the interrelation between motor and cognitive development and the predictive value of the former for the latter, the secular decline observed in motor coordination ability as early as preschool urges identification of interventions that may jointly impact motor and cognitive efficiency. The aim of this study was twofold. It (1) explored the outcomes of enriched physical education (PE), centered on deliberate play and cognitively challenging variability of practice, on motor coordination and cognitive processing; (2) examined whether motor coordination outcomes mediate intervention effects on children's cognition, while controlling for moderation by lifestyle factors as outdoor play habits and weight status. Four hundred and sixty children aged 5-10 years participated in a 6-month group randomized intervention in PE, with or without playful coordinative and cognitive enrichment. The weight status and spontaneous outdoor play habits of children (parental report of outdoor play) were evaluated at baseline. Before and after the intervention, motor developmental level (Movement Assessment Battery for Children) was evaluated in all children, who were then assessed either with a test of working memory (Random Number Generation task), or with a test of attention (from the Cognitive Assessment System). Children assigned to the 'enriched' intervention showed more pronounced improvements in all motor coordination assessments (manual dexterity, ball skills, static/dynamic balance). The beneficial effect on ball skills was amplified by the level of spontaneous outdoor play and weight status. Among indices of executive function and attention, only that of inhibition showed a differential effect of intervention type. Moderated mediation showed that the better outcome of the enriched PE on ball skills mediated the better inhibition outcome, but only when the enrichment intervention was paralleled by a medium-to-high level of outdoor play. Results suggest that specifically tailored physical activity (PA) games provide a unique form of enrichment that impacts children's cognitive development through motor coordination improvement, particularly object control skills, which are linked to children's PA habits later in life. Outdoor play appears to offer the natural ground for the stimulation by designed PA games to take root in children's mind.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Pesce
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Italian University Sport and Movement “Foro Italico”Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Masci
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Italian University Sport and Movement “Foro Italico”Rome, Italy
| | - Rosalba Marchetti
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Italian University Sport and Movement “Foro Italico”Rome, Italy
| | | | - Arja Sääkslahti
- Department of Sport Sciences, University of JyväskyläJyväskylä, Finland
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What is the Relationship between Risky Outdoor Play and Health in Children? A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2015; 12:6423-54. [PMID: 26062038 PMCID: PMC4483710 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120606423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Revised: 03/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Risky outdoor play has been associated with promoting children’s health and development, but also with injury and death. Risky outdoor play has diminished over time, concurrent with increasing concerns regarding child safety and emphasis on injury prevention. We sought to conduct a systematic review to examine the relationship between risky outdoor play and health in children, in order to inform the debate regarding its benefits and harms. We identified and evaluated 21 relevant papers for quality using the GRADE framework. Included articles addressed the effect on health indicators and behaviours from three types of risky play, as well as risky play supportive environments. The systematic review revealed overall positive effects of risky outdoor play on a variety of health indicators and behaviours, most commonly physical activity, but also social health and behaviours, injuries, and aggression. The review indicated the need for additional “good quality” studies; however, we note that even in the face of the generally exclusionary systematic review process, our findings support the promotion of risky outdoor play for healthy child development. These positive results with the marked reduction in risky outdoor play opportunities in recent generations indicate the need to encourage action to support children’s risky outdoor play opportunities. Policy and practice precedents and recommendations for action are discussed.
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Sagheddu C, Muntoni AL, Pistis M, Melis M. Endocannabinoid Signaling in Motivation, Reward, and Addiction. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2015; 125:257-302. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2015.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Alexander SA, Frohlich KL, Fusco C. 'Active play may be lots of fun, but it's certainly not frivolous': the emergence of active play as a health practice in Canadian public health. SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH & ILLNESS 2014; 36:1188-1204. [PMID: 24915830 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.12158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In the context of what has been termed a childhood obesity epidemic, public health institutions have recently begun to promote active play as a means of addressing childhood obesity, thus advancing play for health. Drawing on Foucault, this article problematises the way that children's play is being taken up as a health practice and further considers some of the effects this may have for children. Six Canadian public health websites were examined, from which 150 documents addressing children's health, physical activity, obesity, leisure activities and play were selected and coded deductively (theoretical themes) and inductively (emerging themes). Bacchi's () question-posing approach to critical discourse analysis deepened our analysis of dominant narratives. Our findings suggest that several taken-for-granted assumptions and practices underlie this discourse: (i) play is viewed as a productive activity legitimises it as a health practice; (ii) tropes of 'fun' and 'pleasure' are drawn on to promote physical activity; (iii) children are encouraged to self-govern their leisure time to promote health. We underscore the need to recognise this discourse as contingent and as only one of many ways of conceptualising children's leisure activities and their health and social lives more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Alexander
- School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Canada; Université de Montréal Public Health Research Institute
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Hewes J. Seeking Balance in Motion: The Role of Spontaneous Free Play in Promoting Social and Emotional Health in Early Childhood Care and Education. CHILDREN-BASEL 2014; 1:280-301. [PMID: 27417480 PMCID: PMC4928743 DOI: 10.3390/children1030280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Revised: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
There is accumulating scientific evidence of the potential of play and playfulness to enhance human capacity to respond to adversity and cope with the stresses of everyday life. In play we build a repertoire of adaptive, flexible responses to unexpected events, in an environment separated from the real consequences of those events. Playfulness helps us maintain social and emotional equilibrium in times of rapid change and stress. Through play, we experience flow—A feeling of being taken to another place, out of time, where we have controlled of the world. This paper argues that spontaneous free play, controlled and directed by children and understood from the child’s perspective, contributes to children’s subjective experience of well-being, building a foundation for life-long social and emotional health. The paradoxical nature of young children’s spontaneous free play is explored. Adaptability, control, flexibility, resilience and balance result from the experience of uncertainty, unpredictability, novelty and non-productivity. These essential dimensions of young children’s spontaneous free play typically produce play which is experienced by adults as chaotic, nonsensical and disruptive. The article concludes with a preliminary discussion of the challenges and possibilities of providing for spontaneous free play indoors, in early childhood care and education programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Hewes
- Early Learning and Child Care, Faculty of Health and Community Studies, MacEwan University, Edmonton AB T5J4P2, Canada.
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Alexander SA, Frohlich KL, Fusco C. Problematizing "play-for-health" discourses through children's photo-elicited narratives. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2014; 24:1329-1341. [PMID: 25147214 DOI: 10.1177/1049732314546753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
There are growing concerns in many industrialized Western societies about declining opportunities for children to play, and fears that this will have adverse health consequences for them. Informed by anti-obesity efforts, public health institutions have recently begun to advance active forms of play as a way of improving children's physical health; however, promoting play for physical health might reshape meanings of play for children. We conducted photography and interview sessions with 25 Canadian children aged 7 to 11 years to examine their representations of play. Our findings suggest that for children, (a) play is an end in itself, (b) play involves but is more than active play, (c) there is ambivalence about scheduled play, and (d) risk is considered a pleasurable component of play. These findings point to a dissonance between children's play promoted for physical health and the meaning of play for children as emotionally contingent, intrinsically motivated, and purposeless.
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