School‐Based Health Promotion Intervention: Parent and School Staff Perspectives

Abstract

Despite contrasting views, parents and staff agreed with the need for comprehensive school-based obesity prevention efforts emphasizing parent and teacher collaboration to promote healthy school and home environments.

Exploring the perspectives of 10‐, 11‐, and 12‐year‐old primary school students on physical activity engagement—“'Cause you can't just be sitting at a desk all the time!”

“…Similarly, participants in this study identified that PA can improve focus, decrease the incidence of "dazing off," and improve readiness to learn. These findings support previous studies (Bauer et al, 2004;Beighle & Morrow, 2014;Fernandez et al, 2013;Huberty et al, 2011;Lobelo et al, 2013;Rasberry et al, 2011;Vanderloo et al, 2013) conducted in more urban areas, thereby emphasizing the importance of promoting PA regardless of geographical location. Thus, policymakers, administrators, teachers, and health promoters could take this information into account when developing school-based PA initiatives for children.…”

“…Currently, 91% of Canadian children are not engaging in enough physical activity (PA) to achieve health benefits, which has contributed towards increased rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other related diseases (Fernandez, Hernandez, Villa, & Delamater, ). According to the 2016 ParticipACTION Report Card on PA for Children and Youth, only 9% of those aged 5 to 17 are meeting guideline recommendations.…”

The views of stakeholders on the role of the primary school in preventing childhood obesity: a qualitative systematic review

“…‘It's not enough to tell me they are overweight if they [the school] don't give them healthy foods’ .…”

“…‘Staff members noted that parents have the primary responsibility of ensuring that their children get adequate nutrition and plenty of physical activity: “… if there are overweight children in your class you can't really be suggesting to them what they should or shouldn't be eating because in reality that's the parents responsibility.” ’ .…”

Parents’ Perceptions of Preschool Activities: Exploring Outdoor Play

“…Furthermore, one study found that parents overestimate the amount of time they thought their preschooler spent engaged in daily physical activity (Irwin, He, Bouck, Tucker, & Pollett, 2005). Other studies of school-aged children reported that both children and parents consider any school related activity to be healthy because school is perceived as a “healthy place.”(Hesketh, Waters, Green, Salmon, & Williams, 2005; Patino-Fernandez, Hernandez, Villa, & Delamater, 2013). These studies suggest that parents may not engage in efforts to promote outdoor play in childcare settings for a few reasons: 1) they do not have a clear understanding of their child’s activities at childcare, 2) they assume that childcare activities are healthful and are following best practices and/or 3) they are not aware of the health and cognitive benefits of active play (Copeland et al, 2009; J.…”