An investigation into the relationship between Physical activity and playground size

Abstract

Playtime has been an effective and important part of school days, enabling children to achieve the numerous benefits gained from exercising. The guidelines currently state that children need at least sixty minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day to gain these benefits (World Health Organisation, 2011). There is growing concern that playground activities are not given the recognition they deserve by teaching bodies as an important part of the holistic development of the child.

The aims of this paper were to investigate the potential relationship between PA (Physical Activity) and the size of the playground. The area of playground research is fairly limited despite the fact that many schools recognise the important contribution it has to the overall activity levels in a child’s life.

Data were gathered from 277 subjects in 6 schools across the Northern Ireland library boards. It showed no correlations between the size of a school’s useable playground space and PA levels, but did show a difference between the sexes. It also made clear how schools utilise playground space in the most efficacious way.

It is my aim that this paper will highlight the need for schools to become more efficient in their use of their playground, particularly when it comes to female PA levels which are most affected by smaller playgrounds.  Effective strategies shown to increase efficiency of playground space are also discussed.