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Playground usage and physical
activity levels of children
based on playground spatial
features
hysical activity in children physical activities since some of (pre-)school playgrounds on
Pand adolescents is the basis of games and activities, like playing children’s physical activity levels
growing up healthily. Furthermore, tag or tennis, cannot take place and found positive associations
lifestyle habits are developed indoors in a children’s room. The between provision of (portable and
in the course of childhood and wide space that is provided when fixed) play equipment, playground
adolescence and may persist into being outdoors in parks, forests, size and decreased playground
adulthood. Many studies have inner courtyards, traffic-calmed density (children per square meter)
shown that physically active streets, play areas or playgrounds on physical activity in school
children and adolescents are more facilitates a larger range of children. In another review, the
physically active throughout activities and more intensive contribution of playground designs
their lifespan than their inactive physical activity. Being outside to increasing physical activity
counterpart is. Nevertheless, many with a lower risk of injury and/ levels was also investigated in a
children worldwide are not meeting or damaging objects may also school setting and showed that
physical activity guidelines and lead to greater physical activity playground markings plus physical
are not active enough to grow up opportunities for children and structures increase physical activity
healthily. adolescents. However, high-speed, during recess. Nevertheless, few
high-volume traffic on the roads, studies have been conducted to
According to social cognitive limited pedestrian safety structures, investigate which features and
theory, both social and physical walking or biking facilities and characteristics of neighborhood,
environments influence behavior restricted access to recreational out-of-school playgrounds foster
and vice versa. A wide range facilities all hinder outdoor usage and physical activity levels
of studies has shown that the physical activity in children and in children and how playgrounds
neighborhood environment is adolescents. Physical activity should be designed to promote
an essential physical context, spaces in the neighborhood must physical activity out of school.
having a large impact on physical be available to facilitate outdoor
activity patterns of children and physical activity in children and Moreover, different physical
adolescents. Furthermore, being adolescents.
outside is one of the strongest
determinants of physical activity Playgrounds are places specifically
in youth: an observational study developed to offer opportunities for
with children from low- to middle- children to play and be physically
income families in San Diego, CA, active, thus facilitating healthy
USA, for example, showed that development with various play
the strongest correlate of children’s equipment and play areas, they
physical activity at home was time provide affordances that do not
spent outdoors. necessarily cause children’s
activities, but which offer
Being outdoors seems to be a action possibilities. conducted a
necessary precondition for many systematic review of the value
34 February 2020
