Academically Oriented Activity Breaks for First-Grade Chilean Students: Development and Pilot Testing Effectiveness

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Educational Psychology
• Kinesiology

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a growing concern, with low physical activity levels contributing to health issues.
• School-based interventions are crucial for promoting physical activity among children.
• Integrating physical activity into the academic day can enhance both health and learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and pilot test the effectiveness of the Active Breaks (AB) program.
• To increase school time moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in first graders.
• To assess the feasibility and implementation of daily physical activity breaks.

Main Methods:

• Developed 240 game-based activity cards for 15-minute bouts of MVPA.
• Assessed implementation time, ease, and feasibility with trained observers and teachers.
• Collected qualitative data on barriers and facilitators through teacher interviews.
• Measured school time MVPA using accelerometers in 556 students across eight schools.

Main Results:

• 120 game cards met all criteria for implementation.
• Active Breaks were implemented 50% of the time, averaging 14 minutes.
• Teachers reported high confidence (90%) in conducting AB; children enjoyed the activities.
• Moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA) increased by 1.5% in boys and 1.2% in girls over 4 months.

Conclusions:

• The Active Breaks program and its associated game cards are feasible and easy to implement in schools.
• Preliminary findings suggest AB can effectively increase school time MVPA in first graders.
• Further research with longer follow-up periods is recommended to validate these findings.