What is it about?
This study investigated if allowing children in daycare to play outside unrestricted (beyond designated hours) increases their moderate-to-intense physical activity. After three months, accelerometers in a study of 231 children revealed no significant improvements above regular play. Changes in center environments might be more effective.
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Why is it important?
Early daycare is a crucial environment for developing young children's exercise habits and development, which makes this study significant. It challenges the notion that "more free time outside" is sufficient by demonstrating that merely providing more unstructured outdoor free-play did not boost activity or enhance cognition.
Perspectives
When creating play activities, measuring cognition, particularly abilities like inhibitory control - was personally satisfying since it connected the data to actual age-related developmental milestones. I was particularly taken by how Australian playgrounds were clearly divided into sections for children under 4 and for those aged 5 to 12. This demonstrated how carefully planned, age-appropriate settings can better match children's abilities and assist their growth.
Lubna Razak
Brunei Ministry of Health
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Efficacy of a free-play intervention to increase physical activity during childcare: a randomized controlled trial, Health Education Research, November 2018, Oxford University Press (OUP),
DOI: 10.1093/her/cyy041.
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