Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41024521›Full record

ArticleChild: care, health and development2025

Play Together? Unveiling Facilitators and Barriers to Inclusive Outdoor Play for Dutch Children With and Without Disabilities: A Qualitative Study.

R Q Beekhuizen, E A M Bolster, J W Gorter, N L Henry, K Visser, H Wittink, E M W Kotte, M E Sol, M A T Bloemen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Child: care, health and development, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

R Q BeekhuizenResearch group Lifestyle and Health/Moving, growing and thriving together, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
E A M BolsterResearch group Lifestyle and Health/Moving, growing and thriving together, Institute of Human Movement Studies, Master Paediatric Physiotherapy, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
J W GorterDepartment of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science and Sports, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
N L HenryDe Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
K VisserDepartment of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
H WittinkResearch group Lifestyle and Health, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
E M W KotteFitkids Foundation, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
M E SolResearch group Lifestyle and Health/Moving, growing and thriving together, Institute of Human Movement Studies, Master Paediatric Physiotherapy, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
M A T BloemenResearch group Lifestyle and Health/Moving, growing and thriving together, Institute of Human Movement Studies, Master Paediatric Physiotherapy, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Funding

Nationaal Regieorgaan Praktijkgericht Onderzoek SIA RAAK.PRO04.051
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe 'Right to Play' is included in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Outdoor play contributes to children's overall development, physical and mental health and quality of life. Unfortunately, children with disabilities often experience restrictions while playing outdoors. Understanding children's perspectives is crucial to effectively support them in participating. Our aim was to explore facilitators and barriers perceived by Dutch children with and without disabilities (6-12 years), in regular and special primary education, for participating in inclusive outdoor play.

methodsWe conducted 40 semi-structured interviews in school-aged children (mean age years 8.7, SD 1.9): 22 without disabilities, 10 with disabilities attending regular education and 8 with disabilities attending special education. We transcribed all interviews verbatim, and two independent researchers analysed the data using an inductive thematic approach.

resultsWe identified three main themes: personal factors of children with and without disabilities, interacting factors and environmental factors. Each theme has sub-themes acting as either facilitators or barriers to inclusive outdoor play. Personal factors include being open to playing with each other, coping with disabilities, experiencing autonomy, insufficient knowledge about disabilities and feelings about physical and social limitations. Interacting factors include growing up together, making contact and adapting ways of playing. Environmental factors include parents, play environments, communities and time constraints.

conclusionsChildren with and without disabilities in regular and special primary education identify facilitators and barriers in personal, interacting and environmental factors for inclusive outdoor play. Children with disabilities encounter more barriers than those without disabilities. All children are open to playing together, and paediatric rehabilitation professionals and parents play a crucial role in facilitating positive play experiences early on, providing knowledge about the consequences of disabilities, showcasing the capabilities of children with disabilities and collaborating to adapt playgrounds.

Indexed as

Children with DisabilitiesPlay and PlaythingsAdaptation, PsychologicalChildEducation, SpecialFemaleHumansMaleNetherlandsQualitative ResearchQuality of Lifedisabilityinclusionoutdoor playpaediatric rehabilitationqualitative research

Identifiers

PMID41024521
PMCPMC12481145

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.