This study examined the efficacy of a family-focused program designed to increase the amount of time children spend being physically active outdoors. The program – referred to as Active Families in the Great Outdoors (GO) -- was framed around the understanding that an individual's health behaviors can only be understood and changed in the context of the individual's environment and family dynamic. Goals of the 4-week program included educating parents on the importance of outdoor physical activity, providing messages and examples of strategies to increase parents' confidence in promoting family outdoor activity, and providing information and resources to increase parent knowledge of park/greenway locations and amenities.
Sixteen families completed the program. Participating parents used self-report journals to record the number and duration of family outdoor activities per week. They also recorded the type of activities, locations, and family members engaged in the activities. Both children and parents completed pre/post surveys assessing their perceptions about physical activity. These surveys included items focusing on parent support of physical activity, self-efficacy and enjoyment. An additional survey completed before and after the program asked the parents to list the benefits of being active outdoors, games that the family could perform outdoors, and local parks and greenways the family could visit.
An analysis of the data indicated that families increased their total time being active together outdoors and that each outing was longer. The frequency (times per week) did not increase. The authors note that one of the most interesting results of the program involved changes in parent support variables. There was a significant increase in reports of parents exercising on a regular basis and of parents encouraging their children to be active. As other studies indicate, children are more likely to be active when they have an active parent and when parents encourage their children to be active. Walking and playing on playground equipment were the most frequently reported activities, and local parks and family neighborhoods were the most frequently reported locations for physical activity. The program was effective at educating parents on locations of park space and greenways and in increasing their awareness of community resources supporting family outdoor physical activity.
This study indicates that family-centered programs can be effective in increasing children's outdoor physical activity and, thereby, promoting their emotional and physical health.
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