ArticleChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2023
An Observational Study on Play and Physical Activity Associated with a Recreational Facility-Led Park-Based "Loose Parts" Play Intervention during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Article in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
What it found
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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
5 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.
- Observing children's outdoor loose parts play, fundamental movement skills, and physical activity in after-school programs through a behavioral mapping approach.AIMS public health · 2026Article
- Playing Alone: Recess Physical Activity and Social Interactions of Children with and Without Obesity and Severe Obesity.Childhood obesity (Print) · 2025Article
- Project CLEAR (ChemicaL Exposure and Awareness Research): A protocol for assessing the availability and chemical composition of skin-lightening products in Northern Manhattan.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2025Article
- It is child's play: Caregiver and playworker perspectives on a community park-based unstructured play program.PloS one · 2024Article
- An exploration of parent perceptions of a take-home loose parts play kit intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic.PloS one · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Play is a human right, yet opportunities for unstructured play are declining. The COVID-19 pandemic further reduced children's play opportunities. We conducted an observational study of a novel community-based intervention (play hubs) that facilitated unstructured play by offering loose parts in parks (Calgary, Canada) during the pandemic. Our descriptive study included systematic observation using the System for Observing Children's Activity and Relationships During Play (SOCARP) and Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO) to capture physical activity, play, and social and environment interactions among children participating in the play hubs for 10-weeks in 2021 (n = 160) and 2022 (n = 147). Play hub attendance was low. Most children observed were aged 5 to 12 years (2021: 93% and 2022 98%), with boys and girls represented (2021: 58% male/42% female and 2022: 52% male/48% female). Standing, sitting, and moderate activity were common activities. Physical, exploratory, and expressive play were common, while digital, bio, and rule-based play were less common. Children typically played alone or in small groups and engaged with loose parts or played in the open spaces. The play hubs encouraged unstructured play and promoted positive social interactions among children, despite the challenges of implementing a community-based intervention under pandemic public health restrictions.
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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.