title: An assessment of schoolyard features and behavior patterns in children's utilization and physical activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Careful research that elucidates how behavior relates to design in the context of elementary school grounds can serve to guide cost-efficient design with the goal of encouraging physical activity (PA). This work explores patterns in children's PA behavior within playground spaces with the specific goal of guiding healthy playground design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on children's utilization and PA behavior in 6 playgrounds divided into 106 observation zones were collected in 2005 and 2006 at Denver elementary school playgrounds using the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth. Analyses of variance and t tests determined whether there were differences in utilization and behavior patterns across observations zones and between genders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study provides evidence that children prefer to use certain types of playground zones and that they are more likely to practice moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in some zones. The authors observed statistically significant differences between genders. Boys were more likely to engage in MVPA in zones without equipment, girls were more likely to use zones with equipment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work suggests that the inclusion or omission of specific playground features may have an impact on the way that children use the spaces.
authors: Dept of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Denver, CO.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Anthamatten
authors: Lois
authors: L
authors: Brink
authors: Beverly
authors: B
authors: Kingston
authors: Eve
authors: E
authors: Kutchman
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Lampe
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Nigg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003120:Colorado; D003625:Data Collection; D015444:Exercise; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012574:Schools; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014505:Urban Population