Abstract
Background: Indoor soft play can provide a safe but exciting physical activity opportunity regardless of environmental conditions. Relatively little is known about the quality or quantity of physical activity engaged in by children during indoor free soft play. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution indoor free soft play can make in enabling children to meet physical activity guidelines and to evaluate the effects of sex and body mass index category. Methods: Seventy-two boys and girls aged five to 10 years engaged in un-controlled indoor free soft play with a mean duration of 120.7 (27.1) min, during which physical activity was monitored using Actigraph accelerometers. Results: Children spent an average of 61.7 (24.2) min engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and 51.4% (n = 37) achieved the recommended 60 min of MVPA through the single visit to the indoor soft play center. Boys (68.3 (25.7) min) engaged in significantly (p < 0.05) more MVPA than girls (55.8 (21.4) min). Normal weight (65.7 (23.3) min) children engaged in significantly more MVPA than overweight children (48.0 (18.9) min). Conclusions: Attendance at a soft play indoor center has the potential to support children to engage in sufficient MVPA and overcome environmental factors that can restrict physical activity opportunities.
Highlights
IntroductionSufficient quantity and quality of physical activity has important physical and psychological health outcomes (e.g., adiposity, musculoskeletal health, cardiovascular health, metabolic profile and mental health) during childhood and likely into adult years [1]
Sufficient quantity and quality of physical activity has important physical and psychological health outcomes during childhood and likely into adult years [1]
Children spent an average of 61.7 (24.2) min engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), which equates to 51.5%
Summary
Sufficient quantity and quality of physical activity has important physical and psychological health outcomes (e.g., adiposity, musculoskeletal health, cardiovascular health, metabolic profile and mental health) during childhood and likely into adult years [1]. International physical activity guidelines identify the need for children to engage in daily moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for at least 60 min [2]. A decline in physical activity trajectories has been observed from children aged seven years rather than from adolescence, as commonly perceived [4]. Little is known about the quality or quantity of physical activity engaged in by children during indoor free soft play. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution indoor free soft play can make in enabling children to meet physical activity guidelines and to evaluate the effects of sex and body mass index category. Methods: Seventy-two boys and girls aged five to 10 years engaged in un-controlled indoor free soft play with a mean duration of 120.7 (27.1) min, during which physical activity was monitored using Actigraph accelerometers
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