Children’s Physical Activity during COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada: Parents’ Perspectives

Monika Szpunar, Kendall Saravanamuttoo, Leigh M. Vanderloo, Brianne A. Bruijns, Stephanie Truelove, Shauna M. Burke, Jason Gilliland, Jennifer D. Irwin and Patricia Tucker ()
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Monika Szpunar: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
Kendall Saravanamuttoo: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
Leigh M. Vanderloo: School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Elborn College, University of Western Ontario, 1201 Western Road, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
Brianne A. Bruijns: School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Elborn College, University of Western Ontario, 1201 Western Road, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
Stephanie Truelove: Member Interest Groups Section, Professional Development and Practice Support, College of Family Physicians of Canada, Mississauga, ON L4W 5A4, Canada
Shauna M. Burke: School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
Jason Gilliland: School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
Jennifer D. Irwin: School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
Patricia Tucker: School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Elborn College, University of Western Ontario, 1201 Western Road, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-16

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a large influence on children’s physical activity (i.e., play and sport) opportunities. The purpose of this study was to describe parents’ perspectives of their children’s (ages 0–12) physical activity experiences during the pandemic (i.e., since the onset in March 2020 until follow-up survey completion date [between August to December 2021]). As part of the ‘Return to Play’ study conducted in Ontario, Canada, two-parent report surveys were completed online via Qualtrics. Surveys measured parents’ perspectives regarding their children’s physical activity since the onset of the pandemic ( n = 17 items) and collected demographic information ( n = 16 items). Open-ended questions were included to gather a rich understanding of parents’ experiences (i.e., supports, challenges) with facilitating their children’s physical activity. Descriptive statistics were calculated to describe parents’ perspectives of their children’s physical activity experiences and to determine parent demographics. Open-ended questions were analyzed via deductive content analysis. Parents ( n = 382) reported that they noticed behavior changes in their children because of the pandemic (65.9%), and most (73.7%) reported challenges with supporting their children’s activity during periods when public health measures were in place. Many parents (44.5%) stated that their children asked about returning to play/sport more than three times per week during periods when play/sport facilities were closed in Ontario. Qualitative data identified common supports parents used (e.g., getting active outdoors, forming mini social ‘bubbles’), and challenges they faced (e.g., work, children’s increased screen time, and home schooling), pertaining to their children’s physical activity.

Keywords: children; COVID-19; Ontario; parents; sport; play (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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