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Physical Activity and Fundamental Motor Skill Performance of 5–10 Year Old Children in Three Different Playgrounds

Author

Listed:
  • Jessie Adams

    (School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Victoria, Australia)

  • Jenny Veitch

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia)

  • Lisa Barnett

    (Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia)

Abstract

Playgrounds provide opportunities for children to engage in physical activity and develop their fundamental motor skills. The aim of this descriptive pilot study was to examine whether playground design facilitated different levels of physical activity and fundamental motor skills. Children aged 5 to 10 ( n = 57) were recruited from three independent playgrounds located in Melbourne (Australia). Whilst playing, children wore accelerometers which measured time spent in physical activity and direct observations recorded fundamental motor skills and play equipment use. A general linear model with playground type as the predictor and adjusting for monitor wear-time identified whether mean time in physical activity was different for the three playgrounds. Frequencies and a one-way ANOVA assessed whether the observed mean number of fundamental motor skills varied between playgrounds. On average, 38.1% of time (12.0 min) was spent in moderate- vigorous-intensity physical activity. Children in the traditional playground ( n = 16) engaged in more moderate-intensity physical activity (9.4 min) than children in the adventure playground ( n = 21), (5.6 min) ( p = 0.027). There were no significant associations with vigorous-intensity physical activity or fundamental motor skills between playgrounds. Children performed few fundamental motor skills but used a wider variety of equipment in the contemporary and adventure playgrounds. Playgrounds need to maximise opportunities for children to engage in physical activity and develop fundamental motor skills.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessie Adams & Jenny Veitch & Lisa Barnett, 2018. "Physical Activity and Fundamental Motor Skill Performance of 5–10 Year Old Children in Three Different Playgrounds," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-12, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:1896-:d:166957
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Patrizia Tortella & Monika Haga & Håvard Lorås & Guido Francesco Fumagalli & Hermundur Sigmundsson, 2022. "Effects of Free Play and Partly Structured Playground Activity on Motor Competence in Preschool Children: A Pragmatic Comparison Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-14, June.
    2. Rosario Padial-Ruz & Mª Esther Puga-González & Álvaro Céspedes-Jiménez & David Cabello-Manrique, 2021. "Determining Factors in the Use of Urban Parks That Influence the Practice of Physical Activity in Children: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-23, March.
    3. Lejla Obradovic Salcin & Zeljka Karin & Vesna Miljanovic Damjanovic & Marko Ostojic & Andrea Vrdoljak & Barbara Gilic & Damir Sekulic & Maja Lang-Morovic & Josko Markic & Dorica Sajber, 2019. "Physical Activity, Body Mass, and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in the Split-Dalmatia County (Croatia)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Jenny Veitch & Elliott Flowers & Kylie Ball & Benedicte Deforche & Anna Timperio, 2020. "Exploring Children’s Views on Important Park Features: A Qualitative Study Using Walk-Along Interviews," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-14, June.
    5. Le Zhang & Xiaoxiao Xu & Yanlong Guo, 2023. "The Impact of a Child-Friendly Design on Children’s Activities in Urban Community Pocket Parks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-21, June.
    6. Elliott P. Flowers & Anna Timperio & Kylie D. Hesketh & Jenny Veitch, 2019. "Examining the Features of Parks That Children Visit During Three Stages of Childhood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-10, May.
    7. Kylie A Dankiw & Margarita D Tsiros & Katherine L Baldock & Saravana Kumar, 2020. "The impacts of unstructured nature play on health in early childhood development: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(2), pages 1-22, February.
    8. Wenxi Liu & Nan Zeng & Daniel J. McDonough & Zan Gao, 2020. "Effect of Active Video Games on Healthy Children’s Fundamental Motor Skills and Physical Fitness: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-17, November.
    9. Anni Pakarinen & Lea Hautala & Lotta Hamari & Minna Aromaa & Hannele Kallio & Pirjo-Riitta Liuksila & Matti Sillanpää & Sanna Salanterä, 2020. "The Association between the Preference for Active Play and Neurological Development in Toddlers: A Register-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-10, April.

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