Open public spaces are children's favorite places for physical activityThe purpose of this study by Rehrer and colleagues was to investigate attributes of children’s preferences for their most and least favorite places for physical activity. The larger context was concern for reported declines in children’s physical activity leading to a desire to better understand what factors might be used to encourage such physical activity.
Rehrer and colleagues had 173 12- to 13-year children from a high school in Dunedin, New Zealand draw a series of maps about their favorite and least favorite places for physical activity, where they went on a particular Sunday, and where they went on the previous school day. In addition, children described why they liked or avoided certain places and how they got to these places.
In analyzing the data, Rehrer and colleagues found that open public spaces were children's favorite places for physical activity, with 37% of students citing a beach close to school and 33% citing a nearby park as their favorite places. The most common reasons children liked these places were because of the ability to do specific physical activities, the ability to have fun, and having friends to do an activity with. With regard to least favorite places, researchers discovered that an industrial harbor area, other schools, and cemeteries were children's least favorite places for physical activity. The most common reasons children disliked these places were because of bad people and bullies, the location didn't support physical activity, traffic, danger, and the children viewed the places as boring. With regard to children's activities on a Sunday, Rehrer and colleagues found that children made more visits to specific built environments than green spaces and that the majority of children used a car for transport instead of walking or biking. Researchers also found some gender differences. For example, more girls than boys found good weather, living close to facilities, and having friends to do physical activity with were important.
This study provides a valuable contribution to the literature because it focuses on children's perspectives and demonstrates the role of both environmental and social factors in encouraging children's physical activity.
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