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

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia Emm-Collison ◽  
Sarah Lewis ◽  
Thomas Reid ◽  
Joe Matthews ◽  
Simon Sebire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Children’s physical activity decreases during school holidays. Less structured days and reduced participation in organised activities may account for some of the decrease. Little is known about the factors that influence parents’ decision to enrol their child in organised activity such as holiday clubs. This paper sought to explore parents’ perceptions of their child’s physical activity during school holidays and the factors that influence holiday activity-based decision making. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 42 parents of children aged 10–11 years in July 2017 or March 2018. Data were analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive content analysis to explore parents’ perceptions of holiday-based physical activity and the factors associated with how they provide physical activity opportunities for their children. The data revealed that most parents consider their child’s physical activity levels when planning for the school holidays. However, work commitments in the holidays meant many parents had to rely on both informal and formal childcare. Grandparents were the primary source of informal childcare, despite a perception that children were not as physically active when with them. Holiday clubs were also a viable option, but the cost, location and age-appropriateness of provision inhibit parents signing older children up to these regularly.

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

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (17) ◽  
pp. 3174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydia G. Emm-Collison ◽  
Sarah Lewis ◽  
Thomas Reid ◽  
Joe Matthews ◽  
Simon J. Sebire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
School Level ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Sharp Decline ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Screen Viewing ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Physical activity levels decline, and screen-viewing behaviours increase during childhood and adolescence. The transition to secondary school appears to coincide with a sharp decline in physical activity. Parents have the potential to influence their child’s behaviours, yet little is known about their expectations for their child’s physical activity and screen-viewing during this transition. This paper explores parents’ expectations for their children’s physical activity and screen-viewing as they transition from primary to secondary school, and their proposed strategies for managing these behaviours during this time. Forty-two parents of children aged 10–11 years participated in a semi-structured telephone interviews in July 2017 or March 2018. The interview data were analysed via inductive and deductive content analysis to explore parents’ perceptions of physical activity and screen-viewing during the transition, the reasons for their perceptions, and the strategies they intended to implement to help their child balance their behaviours. Most parents expected both physical activity and screen-viewing to increase during this transition. There were several individuals, social and school-level factors influencing these expectations. Overall, parents felt that helping their child balance their activity levels, screen-viewing and homework would be challenging.

Physical Activity in Preschool Children With the Transition to Outdoors

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russell R. Pate ◽  
Marsha Dowda ◽  
William H. Brown ◽  
Jonathan Mitchell ◽  
Cheryl Addy
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Outdoor Play ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Minute Period ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Trained Observers ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity ◽  
Observation Period

Background:It is known that children are more physically active outdoors than indoors. However, few previous studies have observed the time course for physical activity as young children transition from indoor to outdoor activities.Methods:Participants were 3- to 5-year-old children enrolled in the Children’s Activity and Movement in Preschool Study (CHAMPS). Trained observers used the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Preschool Version (OSRAC-P) to record children’s physical activity levels over 20 minutes in outdoor settings. The 20-minute outdoor observational period began immediately following the transition from indoors to outdoors.Results:Children’s activity levels were moderately high at the time of transition and declined over the 20-minute observation period. Different patterns, however, were observed for boys and girls. Overall, boys were more active than girls. Boys’ activity levels declined in a linear fashion over the 20-minute period, while girls’ activity levels increased slightly, decreased, and then increased slightly again.Conclusions:These data indicate that physical activity levels decline with increased duration of outdoor play. The frequency and duration of outdoor play should be investigated for the purpose of optimizing physical activity levels.

The Effect of Increasing Autonomy Through Choice on Young Children’s Physical Activity Behavior

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel J. Sanders ◽  
Judith Juvancic-Heltzel ◽  
Megan L. Williamson ◽  
James N. Roemmich ◽  
Denise M. Feda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Free Choice ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Activity Participation ◽  
Laboratory Setting ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Background:Increasing autonomy by manipulating the choice of available physical activity options in a laboratory setting can increase physical activity in older children and adults. However, the effect of manipulating the number of physically active choices has yet to be examined in young children in a gymnasium environment.Methods:Twenty children (n = 10 girls, 6.1 ± 1.4 years old) individually participated in 2 [low choice (LC), high choice (HC)] free-choice activity conditions for 30 minutes in a 4360 square foot gymnasium. Children had access to 2 or 8 physical activity options in the LC and HC conditions, respectively. Physical activity behavior was measured via accelerometry.Results:Children’s 30-minute accelerometer counts increased (P < .03) from the LC (2675 ± 294 counts·min-1) to the HC (3224 ± 280 counts·min-1) condition.Conclusions:Providing greater autonomy through choice of a greater number of physically active options increased young children’s physical activity participation by 20.5%.

Gender Differences in Physical Activity during Fifth-Grade Physical Education and Recess Periods

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie A. Sarkin ◽  
Thomas L. McKenzie ◽  
James F. Sallis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Gender Differences ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Fifth Grade ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Similar Activity ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Boys are typically more physically active than girls, but schools have the potential to promote health-related physical activity for all children. This study investigated gender differences in children’s physical activity levels during physical education (PE) classes and unstructured recess periods. The activity levels of 91 fifth-grade children were assessed by accelerometer (Caltrac) on 3 days. Results indicated that children’s activity levels were low to moderately stable from day to day in both environments. Boys and girls had similar activity levels during PE, t(89) = 1.49, p = .140, but boys were significantly more active than girls during recess, t(89) = 3.27, p = .002. Girls were significantly more active during PE than they were at recess, t(51) = 2.08, p = .043. The results suggest that structured PE classes may provide similar amounts of physical activity for both genders.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic Position and Children’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors: Longitudinal Findings From the CLAN Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kylie Ball ◽  
Verity J. Cleland ◽  
Anna F. Timperio ◽  
Jo Salmon ◽  
David A. Crawford
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Socioeconomic Position ◽  
Maternal Education ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Tv Viewing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Background:This study aimed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between socioeconomic position (SEP) and physical activity and sedentary behaviors among children and adolescents.Methods:Maternal education was reported by parents of 184 children 5 to 6 years old and 358 children 10 to 12 years old in 2001. In 2001 and 2004, physical activity was assessed by accelerometry. Older children self-reported and parents of younger children proxy-reported physical activity and TV-viewing behaviors. Linear regression was used to predict physical activity and sedentary behaviors, and changes in these behaviors, from maternal education.Results:Among all children, accelerometer-determined and self- or parent-reported moderate and vigorous physical activity declined over 3 years. Girls of higher SEP demonstrated greater decreases in TV-viewing behaviors than those of low SEP. In general, no prospective associations were evident between SEP and objectively assessed physical activity. A small number of prospective associations were noted between SEP and self-reported physical activity, but these were generally weak and inconsistent in direction.Conclusions:This study did not find strong evidence that maternal education was cross-sectionally or longitudinally predictive of children’s physical activity or sedentary behaviors. Given the well-documented inverse relationship of SEP with physical activity levels in adult samples, the findings suggest that such disparities might emerge after adolescence.

scholarly journals Creating a Scalable Physical Activity Breaks Resource Through the Multisensory Multilevel Health Education Model: H.Y.P.E. The Breaks!

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 101S-110S
Author(s):  
Ewelina M. Swierad ◽  
Lori Rose Benson ◽  
Olajide Williams
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Hip Hop ◽  
Classroom Behavior ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
School Day ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Education Model ◽  
Program Components ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

Physically active children have lower rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and depression than their inactive counterparts, and further evidence suggests that integrating physical activity breaks into the school day improves children’s classroom behavior, fitness, and cognitive functions. The current article focuses on the development and implementation of free, scalable, short activity breaks called H.Y.P.E. The Breaks! (Helping Young People Energize)—a series of 2-, 6-, and 10-minute-long dance and hip-hop–based physical activity videos, which can be used in the classroom or at home. H.Y.P.E. The Breaks! is deconstructed through the lens of the multisensory multilevel health education model, which leverages art, culture, and science in the design and implementation of health programs, and highlights the importance of framing and operationalizing program components across the different behavioral levels of influence of the socioecological model. The article also discusses the uptake of H.Y.P.E. The Breaks! during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, when major declines in children’s physical activity were observed.

scholarly journals Social, Environmental and Psychological Factors Associated with Objective Physical Activity Levels in the Over 65s

PLoS ONE ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. e31878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion E. T. McMurdo ◽  
Ishbel Argo ◽  
Iain K. Crombie ◽  
Zhiqiang Feng ◽  
Falko F. Sniehotta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Psychological Factors ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Physical Activity Levels ◽  
Social Environmental

scholarly journals The Intricacies of Children’s Physical Activity

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy A Brusseau
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physical Activity Patterns ◽  
Change Behavior ◽  
Before And After ◽  
School Recess ◽  
Physical Activity Programming ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

AbstractUnderstanding the physical activity patterns of youth is an essential step in preparing programming and interventions needed to change behavior. To date, little is known about the intricacies of youth physical activity across various physical activity segments (i.e. in school, out of school, recess, classroom physical activity, physical education, weekends, etc.). Therefore, the purpose of the study was to examine the physical activity patterns of elementary school children across various segments and during two seasons. A total of 287 fourth and fifth graders from the Southwest US wore the Yamax Digiwalker SW-200 pedometer for 7 consecutive days during the Fall and Spring seasons. Children were prompted to record their step counts when arriving and leaving school, before and after physical education and recess, as well as on the weekends. Means and standard deviations were calculated and ANOVAs and t tests were utilized to examine difference by sex, season, and segment. Youth were more active outside of school and on weekdays (p<0.05). Boys were generally more active than girls and all youth were more active during the milder Spring season. There is a clear need for Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programming and weekend physical activity opportunities. Furthermore, greater emphasis is needed on PE and across other activity segments for girls to increase their physical activity levels.

Rural Neighborhood Walkability: Implications for Assessment

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (s1) ◽  
pp. S40-S45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle C. Kegler ◽  
Iris Alcantara ◽  
Regine Haardörfer ◽  
Alexandra Gemma ◽  
Denise Ballard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Neighborhood Walkability ◽  
Bodies Of Water ◽  
Active Adults

Background:Physical activity levels, including walking, are lower in the southern U.S., particularly in rural areas. This study investigated the concept of rural neighborhood walkability to aid in developing tools for assessing walkability and to identify intervention targets in rural communities.Methods:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with physically active adults (n = 29) in rural Georgia. Mean age of participants was 55.9 years; 66% were male, 76% were white, and 24% were African American. Participants drew maps of their neighborhoods and discussed the relevance of typical domains of walkability to their decisions to exercise. Comparative analyses were conducted to identify major themes.Results:The majority felt the concept of neighborhood was applicable and viewed their neighborhood as small geographically (less than 0.5 square miles). Sidewalks were not viewed as essential for neighborhood-based physical activity and typical destinations for walking were largely absent. Destinations within walking distance included neighbors’ homes and bodies of water. Views were mixed on whether shade, safety, dogs, and aesthetics affected decisions to exercise in their neighborhoods.Conclusions:Measures of neighborhood walkability in rural areas should acknowledge the small size of self-defined neighborhoods, that walking in rural areas is likely for leisure time exercise, and that some domains may not be relevant.

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