ArticleThe international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity2008
The contribution of preschool playground factors in explaining children's physical activity during recess.
Article in The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 2008. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 64 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
64 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Environmental and practice factors associated with children's device-measured physical activity and sedentary time in early childhood education and care centres: a systematic review.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2022Pooled it
- Relationship Between the Physical Environment and Physical Activity Levels in Preschool Children: A Systematic Review.Current environmental health reports · 2021Pooled it
- Systematic review of the correlates of outdoor play and time among children aged 3-12 years.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2021Pooled it
- Interventions to Change School Recess Activity Levels in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2020Pooled it
- The impacts of unstructured nature play on health in early childhood development: A systematic review.PloS one · 2020Pooled it
- Policy determinants of physical activity across the life course: a 'DEDIPAC' umbrella systematic literature review.European journal of public health · 2018Pooled it
- Barriers and facilitators to young children's physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative literature.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2017Pooled it
- Relationship between eating behaviors and physical activity of preschoolers and their peers: a systematic review.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2016Pooled it
- The value of (pre)school playgrounds for children's physical activity level: a systematic review.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2014Pooled it
- Painted playgrounds for preschoolers' physical activity and fundamental motor skill improvement: a randomized controlled pilot trial of effectiveness.BMC pediatrics · 2023Trial
- Exploring if Playground Quality Predicts Head Start Preschoolers' School Day Physical Activity.International journal of early childhood = Revue internationale de l'enfance prescolaire = Revista internacional de la infancia pre-escolar · 2025Article
- Inclusive community playgrounds benefit typically developing children: An objective analysis of physical activity.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2022Article
- Which Meso-Level Characteristics of Early Childhood Education and Care Centers Are Associated with Health, Health Behavior, and Well-Being of Young Children? Findings of a Scoping Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Does the Spatial Layout of a Playground Affect the Play Activities in Young Children? A Pilot Study.Frontiers in psychology · 2021Article
- Article
- Understanding physical activity and sedentary behaviour among preschool-aged children in Singapore: a mixed-methods approach.BMJ open · 2020Article
- Turn up the healthy eating and activity time (HEAT): Physical activity outcomes from a 4-year non-randomized controlled trial in summer day camps.Preventive medicine reports · 2020Article
- Exploring the Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Childcare PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) Policy: Rationale and Protocol for a Pilot, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Article
- Comparing Free Play and Partly Structured Play in 4-5-Years-Old Children in an Outdoor Playground.Frontiers in public health · 2019Article
- Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity in Childcare: Views from Childcare Managers, Childcare Workers and Parents on Influential Factors.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2018Article
4 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLow levels of physical activity are characteristic in preschoolers. To effectively promote physical activity, it is necessary to understand factors that influence young children's physical activity. The present study aimed to investigate how physical activity levels are influenced by environmental factors during recess in preschool.
methodsPreschool playground observations and pedometry during recess were carried out in 39 randomly selected preschools (415 boys and 368 girls; 5.3 +/- 0.4 years old). In order to examine the contribution of playground variables to physical activity levels, taking adjustment for clustering of subjects within preschools into account, multilevel analyses were conducted.
resultsDuring recess boys took significantly more steps per minute than girls (65 +/- 36 versus 54 +/- 28 steps/min). In both genders higher step counts per minute were significantly associated with less children per m2 and with shorter recess times. Only in boys a hard playground surface was a borderline significant predictor for higher physical activity levels. In girls higher step counts were associated with the presence of less supervising teachers. Playground markings, access to toys, the number of playing or aiming equipment pieces and the presence of vegetation or height differences were not significant physical activity predictors in both genders.
conclusionIn preschool children physical activity during outdoor play is associated with modifiable playground factors. Further study is recommended to evaluate if the provision of more play space, the promotion of continued activity by supervisors and the modification of playground characteristics can increase physical activity levels in preschoolers.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.