Ready for recess: a pilot study to increase physical activity in elementary school children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric health
• Exercise science
• School-based interventions

Background:

• Optimizing recess environments is crucial for maximizing youth physical activity (PA).
• Understanding the impact of interventions on PA levels in children is essential for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of an elementary school recess intervention on moderate PA (MPA) and vigorous PA (VPA).
• To measure changes in PA during recess and throughout the school day post-intervention.

Main Methods:

• A school-based intervention involving staff training, activity zones, and playground equipment was implemented.
• PA levels of 93 third, fourth, and fifth graders were measured using accelerometers before and after the intervention.
• Paired t tests and multiple regressions were used to analyze changes in MPA and VPA.

Main Results:

• The intervention led to significant increases in both MPA and VPA during recess and the school day.
• Specifically, there were increases of 2.5 min MPA and 2.2 min VPA during recess.
• During the school day, increases were 18.7 min MPA and 4.7 min VPA, representing substantial percentage gains.

Conclusions:

• Staff training, recreational equipment, and playground markings are effective and affordable methods to boost children's PA.
• These interventions can help children accumulate the recommended 60 minutes of daily PA.
• Simple environmental modifications can significantly improve physical activity levels in elementary school students.