Examining the Features of Parks That Children Visit During Three Stages of Childhood.

Elliott P Flowers,Jenny Veitch,Kylie D Hesketh,Anna Timperio

doi:10.3390/ijerph16091658

Elliott P Flowers, Jenny Veitch + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091658

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Abstract

Parks provide an opportunity for children to be physically active, but are rarely fully utilised. A better understanding of which park features attract children of varying ages is needed. This study examined which features are present at parks that children visit most often at different stages throughout childhood. Parents reported the park their child visited most often at three timepoints: T1 = 3–5 years, T2 = 6–8 years, and T3 = 9–11 years. These parks were then audited (using a purposely created audit tool) to capture information relating to access, activity areas and quality. Online mapping tools were also used to determine walking distance to parks and park size. Parks visited at T2 were further from home, larger, and had more road crossings, full courts, other facilities and comfort amenities such as toilets and lights than T1 parks. Parks visited at T3 were larger and had more sports ovals compared to T1 parks, and were significantly less likely to have barbeque facilities than T2 parks. Our findings suggest that as children transition from pre-school (T1), to primary school age (T2 and T3), they visit parks that have more facilities to support sport and active recreation.

Highlights

Australian children are generally not sufficiently active; with only 34% of 2–5 year olds, and 17%–40% of primary school age children meeting the recommended physical activity levels [1].Childhood activity levels in Australia are roughly equal to some high income westernised countries (Finland, Germany, United States of America) [2], but below that of others (Canada, England, the Netherlands etc.)
More than 30% of the sample usually visited different parks with children being less likely to visit the same park at T1 and T2 (62%), than they were at T2 and Associations Between Park Features at Three Timepoints
This research showed that as children reach primary school age, they usually visit parks that are further away from home, and that are larger with more sports and recreation facilities, and other facilities

Summary

Introduction

Australian children are generally not sufficiently active; with only 34% of 2–5 year olds, and 17%–40% of primary school age children meeting the recommended physical activity levels [1].Childhood activity levels in Australia are roughly equal to some high income westernised countries (Finland, Germany, United States of America) [2], but below that of others (Canada, England, the Netherlands etc.). Australian children are generally not sufficiently active; with only 34% of 2–5 year olds, and 17%–40% of primary school age children meeting the recommended physical activity levels [1]. The Australian government recommends that preschool children (aged 3–5 years) should spend at least 180 min a day in a variety of physical activities, of which 60 min is energetic play such as running, jumping, kicking and throwing, spread throughout the day. Increasing childhood physical activity levels is a public health priority in Australia and many other developed countries. Parks afford children the opportunity to be physically active: grassy areas provide space to run and throw, courts and ovals mark the boundary for sports (Australian rules football, cricket, soccer etc.), and playground apparatus facilitate climbing, sliding and swinging [5]. Analysis of children’s park use shows that parks are used for sedentary, light, and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activities (MVPA) during evenings on weekdays and on weekends [6], indicating that children’s

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