Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Importance of School Playgrounds for Active, Healthy Students

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Contemporary School Playground Strategies for Healthy Students

Abstract

The promotion of regular physical activity within society has become a major public health objective in an effort to improve health internationally and to prevent the development of obesity and chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes , cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mental health conditions. Childhood is a crucial period to develop health behaviours such as physical activity that can track into adolescence and to a lesser extent into adulthood. As students in some schools can be involved in playground opportunities via up to 4200 school breaks during their schooling (three times per day, 5 days per week, 39 weeks per year, 7 years of primary school ), the school playground is becoming an emerging focus for researchers . Additionally, school playground activities can contribute up to 50% of children’s recommended daily physical activity. Developing a greater understanding and awareness for researchers of the facilitators and barriers of students’ school playground activities for researchers is therefore vital in order to implement school playground strategies effectively in an attempt to achieve sustainable health benefits. Establishing physical activity habits for students via school playground opportunities is important, with recent international trends revealing that many students prefer sedentary activities despite physical activity opportunities being readily available. Despite school playgrounds being an essential stage to develop physical activity habits, our understanding of how to enhance and maintain the physical activity and health of school students is starting to be uncovered, necessitating a vital area of focus for researchers. This chapter outlines the important link between school playgrounds and active, healthy students.

‘School playgrounds are a promising setting to promote children’s physical activity for sustained health outcomes’

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Active Healthy Kids Australia. (2016). Is sport enough? The 2014 active healthy kids Australia report card on physical activity for children and young people. Retrieved June 2, 2016, from https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/images/uploads/publications/ahka_reportcard_longform.pdf

  • Anderson, P. M., & Butcher, K. F. (2006). Childhood obesity: Trends and potential causes. The Future of Children, 16, 19–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arslanian, S. A. (2000). Type 2 diabetes mellitus in children: Pathophysiology and risk factors. Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, 13(Supplement), 1385–1394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2006). Children’s participation in cultural and leisure activities. Retrieved June 1, 2016, from http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4901.0

  • Australian Government: Department of Health. (2007). Australian Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey. Retrieved December 7, 2016, from: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/phd-nutrition-childrens-survey

  • Berenson, G., Srnivasan, S., & Group, B. H. S. (2005). Cardiovascular risk factors in youth with implications for aging: The Bogalusa heart study. Neurobiology of Aging, 26(3), 303–307.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biddle, S., Cavill, N., & Sallis, J. F. (Eds.). (1998). Young and active?: Young people and health-enhancing physical activity: Evidence and implications. London: Health Education Authority.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blair, S. N., & Church, T. S. (2004). The fitness, obesity, and health equation: Is physical activity the common denominator? JAMA, 292(10), 1232–1234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booth, M., Okely, A., Denney-Wilson, E., Yang, B., & Dobbins, T. (2006). NSW Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (SPANS) 2004: Summary report. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://sydney.edu.au/medicine/public-health/prevention-research/pdf/SPANS_ShortReport_2010.pdf

  • Boreham, C. A., Twisk, J., Savage, M. J., Cran, G. W., & Strain, J. J. (1997). Physical activity, sports participation, and risk factors in adolescents. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 29(6), 788–793.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calbet, J., Moysi, J., Dorado, C., & Rodriguez, L. (1998). Bone mineral content and density in professional tennis players. Calcified Tissue International, 62(6), 491–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cale, L., & Harris, J. (2001). Exercise recommendations for young people: An update. Health Education, 101(3), 126–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. (2012). Canadian physical activity, and sedentary behaviour guidelines. Retrieved June 3, 2016, from http://www.csep.ca/CMFiles/Guidelines/CSEP_Guidelines_Handbook.pdf

  • Caspersen, C. J., Powell, K. E., & Christenson, G. M. (1985). Physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness: Definitions and distinctions for health-related research. Public Health Reports, 100(2), 126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castelli, D. M., Hillman, C. H., Buck, S. M., & Erwin, H. E. (2007). Physical fitness and academic achievement in third-and fifth-grade students. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 29(2), 239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaddock, L., Hillman, C. H., Buck, S. M., & Cohen, N. J. (2011). Aerobic fitness and executive control of relational memory in preadolescent children. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 43(2), 344–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chancellor, B. (2013). Primary school playgrounds: Features and management in Victoria, Australia. International Journal of Play, 2(2), 63–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chien, K., Cai, T., Hsu, H., Su, T., Chang, W., Chen, M., Lee, Y., & Hu, F. (2009). A prediction model for type 2 diabetes risk among Chinese people. Diabetologia, 52(3), 443–450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cleland, V., Dwyer, T., & Venn, A. (2012). Which domains of childhood physical activity predict physical activity in adulthood? A 20-year prospective tracking study. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(8), 595–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, T., Rutishauser, I. H., & Seelig, M. (2001). Comparable data on food and nutrient intake and physical measurements from the 1983, 1985 and 1995 national nutrition surveys. Canberra: Health and Aged Care.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalsky, G. P., Stocke, K. S., Ehsani, A. A., Slatopolsky, E., Lee, W. C., & Birge, S. J. (1988). Weight-bearing exercise training and lumbar bone mineral content in postmenopausal women. Annals of Internal Medicine, 108(6), 824–828.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davison, K. K., & Lawson, C. T. (2006). Do attributes in the physical environment influence children’s physical activity? A review of the literature. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 3(1), 19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health. (2014). National physical activity guidelines for children. Retrieved June 29, 2016, from http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/health-pubhlth-strateg-phys-act-guidelines#apa512

  • Dobbins, M., De Corby, K., Robeson, P., Husson, H., & Tirilis, D. (2009). School-based physical activity programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents aged 6–18. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, CD007651.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyment, J. E., Bell, A. C., & Lucas, A. J. (2009). The relationship between school ground design and intensity of physical activity. Children’s Geographies, 7(3), 261–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J., & Pellegrini, A. D. (1997). Surplus energy theory: An enduring but inadequate justification for school break time. Education Review, 49(3), 229–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, H. S., Martin, L. R., Tucker, J. S., Criqui, M. H., Kern, M. L., & Reynolds, C. A. (2008). Stability of physical activity across the lifespan. Journal of Health Psychology, 13(8), 1092–1104. doi:10.1177/1359105308095963.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregg, E. W., Pereira, M. A., & Caspersen, C. J. (2000). Physical activity, falls, and fractures among older adults: A review of the epidemiologic evidence. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 48(8), 883–893.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grissom, J. B. (2005). Physical fitness and academic achievement. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online, 8(1), 11–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Group, D. P. P. R. (2002). Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. The New England Journal of Medicine, 2002(346), 393–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamer, M., & Stamatakis, E. (2009). Physical activity and mortality in men and women with diagnosed cardiovascular disease. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation, 16(2), 156–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayman, L. L., Meininger, J. C., Daniels, S. R., McCrindle, B. W., Helden, L., Ross, J., Dennison, B. A., & Williams, C. L. (2007). Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in nursing practice: Focus on children and youth a scientific statement from the American Heart Association committee on atherosclerosis, hypertension, and obesity in youth of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, and Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism. Circulation, 116(3), 344–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herman, K. M., Craig, C. L., Gauvin, L., & Katzmarzyk, P. T. (2009). Tracking of obesity and physical activity from childhood to adulthood: The physical activity longitudinal study. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 4(4), 281–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hillman, C. H., Buck, S. M., Themanson, J. R., Pontifex, M. B., & Castelli, D. M. (2009). Aerobic fitness and cognitive development: Event-related brain potential and task performance indices of executive control in preadolescent children. Developmental Psychology, 45(1), 114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyndman, B. (2015). Where to next for school playground interventions to encourage active play? An exploration of structured and unstructured school playground strategies. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 8(1), 56–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyndman, B., Telford, A., Finch, C., & Benson, A. (2012). Moving physical activity beyond the school classroom: A social-ecological insight for teachers of the facilitators and barriers to students’ non-curricular physical activity. Australian Journal of Teacher Education (Online), 37(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2012v37n2.2

  • Jago, R., Wedderkopp, N., Kristensen, P. L., Møller, N. C., Andersen, L. B., Cooper, A. R., & Froberg, K. (2008). Six-year change in youth physical activity and effect on fasting insulin and HOMA-IR. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 35(6), 554–560.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kannus, P., Haapasalo, H., Sievänen, H., Oja, P., & Vuori, I. (1994). The site-specific effects of long-term unilateral activity on bone mineral density and content. Bone, 15(3), 279–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kannus, P., Haapasalo, H., Sankelo, M., Sievanen, H., Pasanen, M., Heinonen, A., Oja, P., & Vuori, I. (1995). Effect of starting age of physical activity on bone mass in the dominant arm of tennis and squash players. Annals of Internal Medicine, 123(1), 27–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein-Platat, C., Oujaa, M., Wagner, A., Haan, M., Arveiler, D., Schlienger, J., & Simon, C. (2005). Physical activity is inversely related to waist circumference in 12-y-old French adolescents. International Journal of Obesity, 29(1), 9–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knowles-Yanez, K. (2005). Children’s participation in planning processes. Journal of Planning Literature, 20(1), 3–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krebs, N. F., Himes, J. H., Jacobson, D., Nicklas, T. A., Guilday, P., & Styne, D. (2007). Assessment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity. Pediatrics, 120(Supplement 4), S193–S228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan, S., Rosenberg, L., & Palmer, J. R. (2009). Physical activity and television watching in relation to risk of type 2 diabetes the Black Women’s Health Study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 169(4), 428–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lambourne, K., & Donnelly, J. E. (2011). The role of physical activity in pediatric obesity. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 58(6), 1481–1491.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. M., Burgeson, C. R., Fulton, J. E., & Spain, C. G. (2007). Physical education and physical activity: Results from the school health policies and programs study 2006. The Journal of School Health, 77(8), 435–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindquist, C. H., Reynolds, K. D., & Goran, M. I. (1999). Sociocultural determinants of physical activity among children. Preventive Medicine, 29(4), 305–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLennan, J. (2004). Obesity in children: Tackling a growing problem. Australian Family Physician, 33(1–2), 33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mellman, T. A. (2008). In psychiatric clinics of North America. Sleep Medicine Clinics, 3(2), 261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metsios, G. S., Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou, A., Panoulas, V. F., Wilson, M., Nevill, A. M., Koutedakis, Y., & Kitas, G. D. (2009). Association of physical inactivity with increased cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation, 16(2), 188–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, N., Catenacci, V., Wyatt, H. R., & Hill, J. O. (2011). Obesity: Overview of an epidemic. The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 34(4), 717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, P. J., & Hansen, V. (2008). Classroom teachers’ perceptions of the impact of barriers to teaching physical education on the quality of physical education programs. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 79(4), 506–516.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Association for Sport and Physical Education. (2004). Physical activity for children: A statement of guidelines. Reston: NASPE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nettlefold, L., McKay, H., Warburton, D., McGuire, K., Bredin, S., & Naylor, P. (2011). The challenge of low physical activity during the school day: At recess, lunch and in physical education. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 45(10), 813–819.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oldridge, N. B. (2008). Economic burden of physical inactivity: Healthcare costs associated with cardiovascular disease. European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation, 15(2), 130–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orozco-Beltran, D., & Cos-Claramunt, F. X. (2008). Primary care diabetes in Spain. Primary Care Diabetes, 2(2), 101–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Osório, J. (2012). Obesity: Physical activity reduces genetic contribution to obesity risk. Nature Reviews Endocrinology, 8(1), 2–2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellegrini, A. D., & Bohn, C. M. (2005). The role of recess in children’s cognitive performance and school adjustment. Educational Researcher, 34(1), 13–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pontifex, M. B., Raine, L. B., Johnson, C. R., Chaddock, L., Voss, M. W., Cohen, N. J., Kramer, A. F., & Hillman, C. H. (2011). Cardiorespiratory fitness and the flexible modulation of cognitive control in preadolescent children. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 23(6), 1332–1345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Public Health Agency of Canada. (2002). Canada’s physical activity guide for children. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Recess Rules. (2011). Why the undervalued playtime may be America’s best investment for healthy kids and healthy schools report. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation web site.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reilly, J. J. (2007). Childhood obesity: An overview. Children & Society, 21(5), 390–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ridgers, N. D., Stratton, G., & Fairclough, S. J. (2006). Physical activity levels of children during school playtime. Sports Medicine, 36(4), 359–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ridgers, N. D., Graves, L. E., Foweather, L., & Stratton, G. (2010). Examining influences on boy’s and girls’ physical activity patterns: The A-CLASS project. Pediatric Exercise Science, 22(4), 638–650.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saland, J. M. (2007). Update on the metabolic syndrome in children. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 19(2), 183–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawyer, M. G., Arney, F. M., Baghurst, P. A., Clark, J. J., Graetz, B. W., Kosky, R. J., Nurcombe, B., Patton, G. C., Prior, M. R., Raphael, B., Rey, J. M., Whaites, L. C., & Zubrick, S. R. (2001). The mental health of young people in Australia: Key findings from the child and adolescent component of the national survey of mental health and well-being. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 35(6), 806–814.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sener, T. (2006). The children and architecture project in Turkey. Child Youth Environment, 16(2), 191–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Start Active, Stay Active. (2011). Start Active, Stay Active: a report on physical activity for health from the four home countries’ Chief Medical Officers. 2011. United Kingdom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suominen, H. (1993). Bone mineral density and long term exercise. Sports Medicine, 16(5), 316–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Telama, R. (2009). Tracking of physical activity from childhood to adulthood: A review. Obesity Facts, 2(3), 187–195. doi:10.1159/000222244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tolomio, S., Lalli, A., Travain, G., & Zaccaria, M. (2008). Effects of a combined weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing (warm water) exercise program on bone mass and quality in postmenopausal women with low bone-mineral density. La Clinica Terapeutica, 160(2), 105–109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tranter, P., & Sharpe, S. (2007). Children and peak oil: An opportunity in crisis. International Journal Of Childrens Rights, 15(1), 181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trost, S. G. (2005). Discussion paper for the development of recommendations for children’s and youth’s participation in health promoting physical activity. Retrieved July 1, 2016, from http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:190465

  • Trost, S. G., & Loprinzi, P. D. (2008). Exercise-promoting healthy lifestyles in children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 2(3), 162–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trost, S. G., Pate, R. R., Sallis, J. F., Freedson, P. S., Taylor, W. C., Dowda, M., & Sirard, J. (2002). Age and gender differences in objectively measured physical activity in youth. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(2), 350–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trudeau, F., Laurencelle, L., & Shephard, R. J. (2004). Tracking of physical activity from childhood to adulthood. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(11), 1937–1943.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tudor-Locke, C., Lee, S. M., Morgan, C. F., Beighle, A., & Pangrazi, R. P. (2006). Children’s pedometer-determined physical activity during the segmented school day. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38(10), 1732–1738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Retrieved December 12, 2016, from: https://health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/

  • Verstraete, S. J., Cardon, G. M., De Clercq, D. L., & De Bourdeaudhuij, I. M. (2006). Increasing children’s physical activity levels during recess periods in elementary schools: The effects of providing game equipment. European Journal of Public Health, 16(4), 415–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Virvidakis, K., Georgiou, E., Korkotsidis, A., Ntalles, K., & Proukakis, C. (1990). Bone mineral content of junior competitive weightlifters. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 11(03), 244–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Willenberg, L. J., Ashbolt, R., Holland, D., Gibbs, L., MacDougall, C., Garrard, J., Green J. B., & Waters, E. (2009). Increasing school playground physical activity: A mixed methods study combining environmental measures and children’s perspectives. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 13(2), 210–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, D., Vinicor, F., & Bowman, B. (2004). Primary prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus by lifestyle intervention: Implications for health policy. Annals of Internal Medicine, 140(11), 951.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organisation (WHO). (2015). Health topics: Physical activity. Retrieved June 11, 2016, from http://www.who.int/topics/physical_activity/en/

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4225, Australia

    Brendon Hyndman

Authors
  1. Brendon Hyndman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brendon Hyndman .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

    Brendon Hyndman

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hyndman, B. (2017). The Importance of School Playgrounds for Active, Healthy Students. In: Hyndman, B. (eds) Contemporary School Playground Strategies for Healthy Students. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4738-1_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4738-1_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-4737-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-4738-1

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation