The contribution of active play to the physical activity of primary school children.
OBJECTIVE
To examine associations between active play and the physical activity of 10- to 11-year-old children.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 747, 10- tot11-year-olds, conducted between February 2008 and March 2009 in Bristol, UK. Mean minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and mean activity levels (counts per minute, CPM) were assessed by accelerometer. Frequency of active play was self-reported.


RESULTS
Regression models indicated that frequent active play (5 or more days per week) was associated with mean daily activity levels (CPM) (girls: p=<0.01; boys: p=<0.01), but was only associated with mean daily MVPA for girls (p=<0.01). For leisure-time physical activity, active play was associated with children's CPM (girls: p=0.02; boys: p=<0.01) and MVPA (girls: p=<0.01; boys: p=0.03) on weekdays after school, but was only associated with weekend day CPM for boys (p=<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Active play is associated with children's physical activity with after-school potentially being a critical period. Strategies to promote active play may prove to be a successful means of increasing children's physical activity.
Brockman
Rowan
R
Department of Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. Rowan.Brockman@bristol.ac.uk
Jago
Russell
R
Fox
Kenneth R
KR
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012574:Schools; D006113:United Kingdom