THE DIFFERENCE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND ATTENTION IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN BEFORE AND AFTER FREE PLAY RECESS AND STRUCTURED PLAY RECESS

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Williamson, Megan L.
Language:English
Published: Kent State University / OhioLINK 2013
Subjects:
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1365712511
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-kent13657125112021-08-03T05:21:47Z THE DIFFERENCE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND ATTENTION IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN BEFORE AND AFTER FREE PLAY RECESS AND STRUCTURED PLAY RECESS Williamson, Megan L. Physiology Early Childhood Education Health Sciences Physical Activity Accelerometry Young children Childhood obesity rates have increased three-fold since 1980 and up to 80% of obese children become obese adults. Since young children are forming habits that they will carry with them into adulthood, preschool represents an ideal setting to instill proper physical activity habits. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to assess the amount of physical activity in preschool children during three different recess conditions on separate days: free play, structured play and a control (non-active) condition. Physical activity levels were measured in preschool children (N = 22) during three, 30-minute recess conditions; control, structured play recess, and free play recess. Children wore accelerometers for the duration the school day (165 minutes) for three days. Accelerometer counts during the recess sessions and for the entire school day were recorded. Each recess condition was completed on a separate day, but all during the same week. After all three recess conditions had been completed; the child was asked which recess period they preferred. Children accumulated significantly (p = 0.001) more accelerometer counts during recess and for the entire school day in the free play (570 ± 460 counts.min-1 at recess; 632 ± 232 counts.min-1 during school day) and structured (1,416 ± 448 counts.min-1 at recess; 629 ± 200 counts.min-1 during school day) recess conditions versus the control condition (570 ± 460 counts.min-1 at recess; 462 ± 200 counts.min-1 during school day). Accelerometer counts during recess and for the entire school day were not different (p = 0.9) between the free play and structured recess conditions. All children indicated that they preferred either the structured play (55%) or free play (45%) recess conditions over the control recess condition. Presently both a structured play and free play recess condition were equally successful in increasing physical activity behavior and were preferred versus a non-active recess condition. Providing pre-school children with the opportunity to be physically active during recess successfully increases physical activity during the school day and is preferable to a sedentary recess. 2013-05-07 English text Kent State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1365712511 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1365712511 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Physiology
Early Childhood Education
Health Sciences
Physical Activity
Accelerometry
Young children
spellingShingle Physiology
Early Childhood Education
Health Sciences
Physical Activity
Accelerometry
Young children
Williamson, Megan L.
THE DIFFERENCE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND ATTENTION IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN BEFORE AND AFTER FREE PLAY RECESS AND STRUCTURED PLAY RECESS
author Williamson, Megan L.
author_facet Williamson, Megan L.
author_sort Williamson, Megan L.
title THE DIFFERENCE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND ATTENTION IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN BEFORE AND AFTER FREE PLAY RECESS AND STRUCTURED PLAY RECESS
title_short THE DIFFERENCE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND ATTENTION IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN BEFORE AND AFTER FREE PLAY RECESS AND STRUCTURED PLAY RECESS
title_full THE DIFFERENCE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND ATTENTION IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN BEFORE AND AFTER FREE PLAY RECESS AND STRUCTURED PLAY RECESS
title_fullStr THE DIFFERENCE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND ATTENTION IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN BEFORE AND AFTER FREE PLAY RECESS AND STRUCTURED PLAY RECESS
title_full_unstemmed THE DIFFERENCE IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND ATTENTION IN PRESCHOOL CHILDREN BEFORE AND AFTER FREE PLAY RECESS AND STRUCTURED PLAY RECESS
title_sort difference in physical activity levels and attention in preschool children before and after free play recess and structured play recess
publisher Kent State University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2013
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1365712511
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