Development of the Physical Literacy Environmental Assessment (PLEA) tool

Abstract

Physical literacy is becoming increasingly popular in sport, recreation, physical education and physical activity settings and programming. We developed an environmental assessment tool to evaluate the extent child and youth activity programs implement physical literacy across four domains: environment, programming, leaders and staff, and values and goals. The Physical Literacy Environmental Assessment (PLEA) tool was developed in 3 phases. First, the PLEA tool was created, content validity established, and physical literacy leaders were consulted. In the second phase, the PLEA tool was completed and tested by 83 child and youth programs and it was validated with individual physical literacy assessments completed on children in programs that scored in the top 10% and bottom 10% on the PLEA tool. Third, a National consultation was conducted, and program leaders provided feedback on the PLEA tool. In Phase 1, the PLEA tool was modified and shortened from 41 to 29 indicators, based on feedback from physical literacy content leaders. In Phase 2, participants in programs that scored in the top 10% had significantly higher scores on the upper body object control domain of PLAYfun (p = 0.018), and significantly higher PLAYself scores (p = 0.04) than participants in programs that scored in the bottom 10%. In Phase 3, over 80% of program leaders identified the PLEA tool was useful, and relevant to their areas of practice. The completed PLEA tool is a 20-item environmental assessment tool to evaluate to what degree child and youth programming implement physical literacy across four domains: environment, programming, leaders and staff, and values and goals. The application and validity of the PLEA tool beyond child and youth physical education, sport, dance and recreation sectors, such as in early years programs, should be investigated.

Physical Literacy, Physical Activity, and Health Indicators in School-Age Children

“…The PLAYfun assessment includes 18 movement skills within five domains: running, locomotor, object control (upper body, object control) lower body, and balance, stability, and body control. PLAYfun was administered with the same methods as previously described [ 7 , 20 ]. The total score is the average score of all 18 task scores [ 15 ].…”

Relationship Among Physical Literacy, Mental Health, and Resilience in College Students

“…The influence of environmental factors on mental health has been demonstrated ( 19 ). Similarly, the effects of how environmental factors impact physical literacy were also examined ( 5 ). Such common characteristics, as well as the commonality in improving the wellbeing and quality of life of individuals, could be the basis for the association between physical literacy and mental health.…”

“…The concept roots in existential and phenomenological philosophy, which sees physical literacy as an essential component in human thriving and a construct of embodiment to quest harmony and unity among mental, physical, and environmental states (1,3). Thus, a growing body of research has suggested that physical literacy is the foundation of lifetime physical activity participation (4)(5)(6)(7). Previous studies demonstrate the positive relationships between physical literacy and physical activity levels (8,9).…”

An exploration into early childhood physical literacy programs: A systematic literature review

“…The Preschool Physical Literacy Assessment (Pre PLAy) was developed for early childcare settings to assess and track physical literacy in the preschool space (Sport for Life Society, 2018). Similarly, the Physical Literacy Environmental Assessment (PLEA) tool was developed to assess the physical literacy programs across sectors; however, further research is needed to use the PLEA tool within the early childhood sector (Caldwell et al, 2020). The authors of this review recommend the use of validated physical literacy assessment tools when assessing the overall efficacy of structured physical literacy programs.…”