Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment
08:36

Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment

Published on: April 19, 2024

1.2K

Efficacy of a free-play intervention to increase physical activity during childcare: a randomized controlled trial

Luke Wolfenden1,2,3,4, Jannah Jones1,2,3,4, Ben Parmenter2

  • 1Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, NSW, Australia.

Health Education Research
|November 17, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Childcare free-play access did not significantly increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Future interventions should address multiple environmental factors to boost child physical activity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • Childhood physical activity is crucial for development and long-term health.
  • Childcare settings are key environments for influencing children's physical activity levels.
  • Current interventions often focus on structured activities, with less emphasis on free-play opportunities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a childcare intervention promoting unrestricted outdoor free-play.
  • To determine if increased access to outdoor free-play enhances child physical activity and cognition.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 231 children across six childcare services.
  • Intervention group: unrestricted outdoor free-play access during non-structured times.
  • Control group: usual scheduled outdoor play; physical activity measured by accelerometry.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences were found in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) between groups.
  • Proportion of wear time in MVPA and total physical activity also showed no significant group differences.
  • Child cognition measures did not differ significantly between the intervention and control groups.

Conclusions:

  • Unrestricted outdoor free-play in childcare alone may not be sufficient to increase child physical activity.
  • Comprehensive interventions targeting both childcare and home environments show greater potential.
  • Further research is needed to identify optimal strategies for promoting physical activity in early childhood settings.

More Related Videos

Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke08:53

Randomized, Triple-Blind, and Parallel-Controlled Trial of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Cognitive Rehabilitation after Stroke

Published on: June 6, 2025

1.8K
Author Spotlight: Advancements and Challenges in Surgical Treatments for Postamputation Pain03:26

Author Spotlight: Advancements and Challenges in Surgical Treatments for Postamputation Pain

Published on: March 8, 2024

3.5K

Related Concept Videos

Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature01:23

Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature

Heat is a widely used method to control microbial growth by targeting and denaturing cellular proteins, thereby killing or inactivating microbes. This method's effectiveness is quantified using parameters such as the thermal death point (TDP), thermal death time (TDT), and decimal reduction time (D value). TDP represents the lowest temperature at which all microorganisms in a liquid suspension are eliminated within 10 minutes, whereas TDT is the time necessary to achieve sterilization at a...
1.1K
Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration01:26

Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Radiation and Filtration

Radiation and filtration are essential tools for microbial control, targeting microorganisms through distinct mechanisms. Radiation eliminates microbes by damaging their DNA, either killing them or inhibiting their growth. Based on wavelength, radiation is classified into two types: nonionizing and ionizing radiation.Non-ionizing radiation, such as UV radiation (200–400 nm), is absorbed by DNA, causing defects that effectively disinfect surfaces, air, and water, including safety cabinets.
1.1K
Nursing Interventions I: Taxonomy of Nursing Interventions01:03

Nursing Interventions I: Taxonomy of Nursing Interventions

Nursing interventions are chosen as part of the planning process to achieve patient outcomes. Once nursing diagnoses are determined, the goals and outcomes are specified, then the nursing interventions are selected and individualized according to the patient's situation.
A nursing intervention is a treatment or action based on scientific concepts and knowledge from the nursing, behavioral, and physical sciences. Identifying and prioritizing nursing interventions based on the desired outcome...
3.9K
Social Foundations of Self I: Play and Game01:24

Social Foundations of Self I: Play and Game

The development of self in children is deeply rooted in social interactions, mainly through stages of play and structured games. These stages, outlined by sociologist George Herbert Mead, illustrate how children progressively learn to understand and adopt social roles, forming a cohesive sense of self.The Play Stage: Imitation and Simple Role-TakingIn the early years of childhood, the play stage is characterized by imitative behavior, where children engage in role-playing based on familiar...
213
Nursing Interventions II: Selecting and Classifying the Nursing Interventions01:29

Nursing Interventions II: Selecting and Classifying the Nursing Interventions

Creating and executing a nursing diagnosis helps nurses plan care and guide patient, family, and community interventions. They are developed based on a patient's physical evaluation and support measuring the outcomes. It is not recommended to select random interventions throughout the planning process. Instead, consider the following six essential factors when choosing interventions:
3.3K
Clinical Trials: Overview01:11

Clinical Trials: Overview

Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
5.0K