Outdoor Kindergartens: A Structural Way to Improve Early Physical Activity Behaviour?

Jeanett Friis Rohde (), Sofus Christian Larsen, Mathilde Sederberg, Anne Bahrenscheer, Ann-Kristine Nielsen, Berit Lilienthal Heitmann and Ina Olmer Specht
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Jeanett Friis Rohde: Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Nordre Fasanvej 57, Vej 8, Entrance 11, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Sofus Christian Larsen: Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Nordre Fasanvej 57, Vej 8, Entrance 11, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Mathilde Sederberg: Department of Pedagogy, Education Research and Development, Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Copenhagen University College, Campus Hillerød, Carlsbergvej 14, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark
Anne Bahrenscheer: Department of Pedagogy, Education Research and Development, Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Copenhagen University College, Campus Hillerød, Carlsbergvej 14, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark
Ann-Kristine Nielsen: Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Nordre Fasanvej 57, Vej 8, Entrance 11, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Berit Lilienthal Heitmann: Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Nordre Fasanvej 57, Vej 8, Entrance 11, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Ina Olmer Specht: Research Unit for Dietary Studies, The Parker Institute, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, The Capital Region, Nordre Fasanvej 57, Vej 8, Entrance 11, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Studies have shown that outdoor play in nature is associated with a higher physical activity level than indoor play. We aimed to examine the effect of outdoor versus conventional kindergartens on objectively measured physical activity. Method: Using a pre-test-post-test design, we collected data in four kindergartens that provided a rotating outdoor and conventional kindergarten setting. Step counts were measured during one week in the outdoor setting and one week in the conventional setting. Differences in step counts between the outdoor and conventional setting were analysed using a paired t-test. Results: In total, 74 children were included. There was no statistically significant difference in total daily step counts between children in the two settings. When we looked at step counts during kindergarten hours, we saw that children were more physically active in the outdoor setting compared to the conventional setting (mean difference: 1089, p < 0.0001). When we looked at activity during time outside the kindergarten, we discovered that children had a lower step count in the outdoor setting as compared to the conventional setting (mean difference −652, p = 0.01). Conclusion: This study indicates that children are more physically active during the time they spend in outdoor kindergartens compared to conventional kindergartens, but may compensate with more inactivity outside kindergarten hours.

Keywords: kindergarten; preschool children; physical activity; outdoor environment; nature; step counts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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