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. 2012 Jul;15(4):334-40.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2011.12.004. Epub 2012 Feb 17.

Effect of increasing the choice of active options on children's physically active play

Denise M Feda  1 , Maya J Lambiase, Thomas F McCarthy, Jacob E Barkley, James N Roemmich
Affiliations

Effect of increasing the choice of active options on children's physically active play

Denise M Feda et al. J Sci Med Sport. 2012 Jul.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether increasing the choice of physical activity options increases the duration and intensity of children's physically active play.

Design: This cross-sectional laboratory study included gender (male and female) and choice group [single toy (no choice), three toys (low choice), five toys (high choice)] as between participant factors.

Methods: Boys and girls (n=36, 8-12 y) were stratified, randomly assigned to a choice group that always provided access to each participant's most liked active toy(s), and allowed 60 min of free time. The same sedentary alternatives were freely available to all participants. Physical activity outcomes were measured by accelerometry, heart rate, and direct observation.

Results: The number of active toys the children played with increased (p<0.001) across each choice group. Minutes spent in MPA were greater in the low choice (p<0.05) and high choice (p<0.02) groups than the no choice group. Active playtime was greater (p<0.01) in the low choice (79%) and high choice (95%) groups compared to the no choice group. Girls in the low and high choice groups had greater (p<0.05) percent heart rate reserve when compared to girls in the no choice group. There was no difference in the boys' percent heart rate reserve between the no choice, low choice and high choice groups.

Conclusions: Increasing the choice of active toys increases both the duration and intensity of physically active play, especially in girls.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Minutes of physically active play (upper panel), number of 30 sec MVPA bouts (middle panel) and percent heart rate reserve (lower panel) of boys and girls given access to one, three, or five active toys during a one-hour free choice session. Data are mean ± SE. Like letters are p < 0.05.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Minutes of physically active play in light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MPA), and vigorous physical activity (VPA) by gender. Data are mean ± SE. Like letters are p < 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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