Abstract
BackgroundPhysical activity has important benefits for children's physical health and mental wellbeing, but many children do not meet recommended levels. Research suggests that active play has the potential to make a valuable contribution to children's overall physical activity, whilst providing additional cognitive, social and emotional benefits. However, relatively little is known about the determinants of UK children's active play. Understanding these factors provides the critical first step in developing interventions to increase children's active play, and therefore overall physical activity.MethodsEleven focus groups were conducted with 77, 10-11 year old children from four primary schools in Bristol, UK. Focus groups examined: (i) factors which motivate children to take part in active play; (ii) factors which limit children's active play and (iii) factors which facilitate children's active play. All focus groups were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using a thematic approach.ResultsChildren were motivated to engage in active play because they perceived it to be enjoyable, to prevent boredom, to have physical and mental health benefits and to provide freedom from adult control, rules and structure. However, children's active play was constrained by a number of factors, including rainy weather and fear of groups of teenagers in their play spaces. Some features of the physical environment facilitated children's active play, including the presence of green spaces and cul-de-sacs in the neighbourhood. Additionally, children's use of mobile phones when playing away from home was reported to help to alleviate parents' safety fears, and therefore assist children's active play.ConclusionsChildren express a range of motivational and environmental factors that constrain and facilitate their active play. Consideration of these factors should improve effectiveness of interventions designed to increase active play.
Highlights
Physical activity has important benefits for children’s physical health and mental wellbeing, but many children do not meet recommended levels
Regular physical activity in children is associated with numerous benefits for long-term physical health, including lower body mass, blood pressure and insulin levels, and with improved mental wellbeing [1,2,3,4]
Eleven focus groups were conducted with 77 participants from four schools, with the sample being 64% female
Summary
Physical activity has important benefits for children’s physical health and mental wellbeing, but many children do not meet recommended levels. Relatively little is known about the determinants of UK children’s active play Understanding these factors provides the critical first step in developing interventions to increase children’s active play, and overall physical activity. Regular physical activity in children is associated with numerous benefits for long-term physical health, including lower body mass, blood pressure and insulin levels, and with improved mental wellbeing [1,2,3,4]. Despite these benefits, many children do not engage in the recommended one hour of physical activity on most days of the week [5,6]. In addition to physical health benefits, active play adds unique contributions to children’s development which may not be obtained from more structured forms of physical activity, including creativity, resolving conflicts and informal social engagement away from the influence of adults [10,11]
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