Outdoor play activities 'good for physical activity levels'
02/02/2010 Allowing children to take part in unstructured outdoor play activities can have an impact on their overall levels of physical activity.
A new study published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity conducted limited research into the field to discover the association between a child's everyday environment and the frequency with which they play outdoors. It also looked at how this relates to overall levels of physical activity.
It was found that children whose parents took them to the park at the weekend were more likely to take part in outdoor play activities in the back garden on other days. It was also found that the more children played outdoors at the weekend, the higher their preference for physical activities.
To achieve the results, researchers recruited 187 children aged eight or nine and their parents from the area around Melbourne, Australia.
Parents filled in a survey about their children's outdoor play activities, while the youngsters' fitness levels were tested using accelerometry, which measures the body on how fast it accelerates and decelerates to perform a task.
Another study produced in Australia, by Dr Kathryn Rose and published on Science Daily, revealed that the benefits of outdoor play activities could include a reduced risk of nearsightedness.
A new study published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity conducted limited research into the field to discover the association between a child's everyday environment and the frequency with which they play outdoors. It also looked at how this relates to overall levels of physical activity.
It was found that children whose parents took them to the park at the weekend were more likely to take part in outdoor play activities in the back garden on other days. It was also found that the more children played outdoors at the weekend, the higher their preference for physical activities.
To achieve the results, researchers recruited 187 children aged eight or nine and their parents from the area around Melbourne, Australia.
Parents filled in a survey about their children's outdoor play activities, while the youngsters' fitness levels were tested using accelerometry, which measures the body on how fast it accelerates and decelerates to perform a task.
Another study produced in Australia, by Dr Kathryn Rose and published on Science Daily, revealed that the benefits of outdoor play activities could include a reduced risk of nearsightedness.
