Playground usage and physical activity levels of children based on playground spatial features

Abstract

AimBeing outdoors is one of the strongest correlates of physical activity in children. Playgrounds are spaces especially designed to enable and foster physical activity in children. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the spatial features of public playgrounds and the usage and physical activity levels of children playing in them.Subjects and methodsA quantitative, observational study was conducted of ten playgrounds in one district of a middle-sized town in Germany. Playground spatial features were captured using an audit instrument and the playground manual of the town. Playground usage and physical activity levels of children were assessed using a modified version of the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth. Negative binomial models were used to analyze the count data.ResultsThe number of children using the playgrounds and the number of children actively playing in them were higher in those with more varied facilities and without naturalness. Girls played more actively in playgrounds without multi-purpose areas. Cleanliness, esthetics, play facility quality, division of functional areas and playground size were not related to any outcome variable.ConclusionPlayground spatial features are related to playground usage and activity levels of the children in the playgrounds. Playgrounds should offer a wide variety of play facilities and provide spaces for diverse play activities to respond to the needs of large numbers of different children and to provide activity-friendly areas enabling their healthy development.

Systematic review of the correlates of outdoor play and time among children aged 3-12 years

“…The quality rating scores are presented in Supplementary Table 3 . Quality was rated as high in 28 studies (25.9%) [ 35 , 39 , 40 , 46 , 48 , 53 , 54 , 59 , 61 , 65 , 67 – 70 , 74 , 80 , 82 , 87 , 92 , 101 – 103 , 107 , 115 , 120 , 121 , 130 , 135 ], moderate in 60 studies (56.1%) [ 30 , 32 – 37 , 40 , 41 , 43 – 48 , 52 , 55 , 56 , 61 – 65 , 70 , 72 – 75 , 77 , 78 , 82 , 84 , 86 , 88 – 91 , 94 , 99 , 101 , 103 , 106 , 108 – 112 , 114 – 118 , 120 , 122 , 124 , 127 , 128 , 132 , 133 , 135 ], and low in 20 studies (18.7%) [ 33 , 34 , 36 ...…”

“…In four studies school grade was reported (1st grade, n = 1; 5th grade, n = 2, prekindergarten to 6th grade, n = 1) [47,59,102,113,132]. The quality rating scores are presented in Supplementary Table 3 [39,51,57,62,70,71,74,83,99,100,103,107,108,114,130], of which one observation used both proxy-and selfreported data [102]. Ten studies used accelerometry or pedometry (i.e., device-based measures of physical activity that took place outdoors) [34,35,48,72,77,86…”

Physical Activity and Outdoor Play of Children in Public Playgrounds—Do Gender and Social Environment Matter?

“…All ten playgrounds in the district of Petershausen-West were analyzed in this study. Detailed information on quality aspects of the playgrounds and playground users is provided elsewhere [ 45 ]. All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Ethics Committee of the University of Konstanz (IRB15KN01) and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.…”

“…In the present study, children were assigned to the children’s group when the estimated age was ≤12 years. Detailed information on physical activity levels of children in the playgrounds and playground usage is reported elsewhere [ 45 ].…”

Socioeconomic Status and Physical Activity During Elementary School Student Recess

“…If the recreation area is a soccer field, boys are more likely to show more interest than girls and, therefore, it is this group that has the highest level of physical activity. Reimers et al (2017) 28 mentions that there is a relationship between surface area and levels of physical activity in children, but we cannot forget to respond to the needs of physical activity, providing different types of activities to include the participation of all genders. Regarding sedentary lifestyle, MI3 was the group with the highest percentage.…”