Until adolescence, outdoor games play an important role in children’s activity. Yet almost half do not go outside to have fun.
Sliding on a tobogan or getting back on all fours, running in the playground or rollerblading in front of the house… Outdoor games make an important contribution to children’s physical activity. However, during school days, nearly 4 in 10 children never play outside, reveals a study published on Tuesday in the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin (BEH).
This work, carried out as part of the national health nutrition study, focused on 808 children aged 3 to 10 and their parents residing throughout France. Dieticians came to the volunteers’ homes to complete a questionnaire with the child and his parents. This one was interested in the living conditions of the family, the school level of the child and its “sedentary” activities (time spent in front of the television or computer) and physical (practices of the sport at school and outside, means of transport to go to school …)
Half of the children do not move
It appears that on days with little or no school (Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday), only 1 in 10 children remain locked up at home. It is especially during school days that children do not indulge enough in outdoor games.
“If overall, 50.2% of children played outdoor games at least 2 school days per week, this proportion varied significantly according to the size and age group of the child, the fact that it is perceived as being active by its parents, the mode of transport to go to school and according to the time spent in front of the television or a computer screen ”, comments the authors.
The results show, in fact, that 33% of overweight or obese children play outdoor games at least twice a week against 52% of children of normal build. They also show that children spending 2 hours or more per day in front of screens (37%) move less than those watching TV for less than 2 hours (56%). However, no difference between boys and girls was observed.
Source: The practice of outdoor games among children aged 3 to 10 in the national health nutrition study (ENNS, 2006-2007), BEH 30-31 published on Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Fight against sedentary lifestyle
In addition, the practice of outdoor games is also associated with a social and environmental dimension. “The practice of outdoor games at least 2 school days per week was indeed less among children from households with the lowest income”, notes the authors. They also specify that these children were not enrolled in sports clubs either. The researchers also observed that children living in the Paris region engaged in little physical activity outside.
“Unlike the practice of sports in a club, which is planned and organized, the practice of outdoor games is part of free time and, as such, directly competes with times of sedentary behavior”, underlines the researchers.
Outdoor recreation and outdoor activities to replace children’s TV shows should therefore be encouraged. The authors suggest, for example, improving the accessibility of parks and playgrounds, especially in cities.
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