Schoolyard Affordances for Physical Activity: A Pilot Study in 6 Nordic–Baltic Countries

Renata Rutkauskaite, Thordis Gisladottir, Maret Pihu, Lise Kjonniksen, Irinja Lounassalo, Terhi Huovinen, Rita Gruodyte-Raciene, Kristina Visagurskiene, Orn Olafson, Merike Kull, Ieva Rudzinska and Ingun Fjørtoft
Additional contact information
Renata Rutkauskaite: Department of Physical and Social Education, Lithuanian Sports University, LT-44221 Kaunas, Lithuania
Thordis Gisladottir: Research Centre for Sport and Health Sciences, School of Education, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland
Maret Pihu: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Tartu University, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
Lise Kjonniksen: Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Education Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway, N-3679 Notodden, Norway
Irinja Lounassalo: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Terhi Huovinen: Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014 Jyväskylä, Finland
Rita Gruodyte-Raciene: Department of Physical and Social Education, Lithuanian Sports University, LT-44221 Kaunas, Lithuania
Kristina Visagurskiene: Department of Physical and Social Education, Lithuanian Sports University, LT-44221 Kaunas, Lithuania
Orn Olafson: Research Centre for Sport and Health Sciences, School of Education, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland
Merike Kull: Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Tartu University, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
Ieva Rudzinska: Department of Management and Communication Science, Latvian Academy of Sport Education, LV-1006 Ryga, Latvia
Ingun Fjørtoft: Faculty of Humanities, Sports and Education Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway, N-3679 Notodden, Norway

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: Environmental settings influence children’s and adolescents’ physical activity (PA) in neighborhoods and schoolyards. This study aimed to explore the main characteristics of schoolyards in six Nordic–Baltic countries, to document how those facilities provide affordances for PA in 7–18 year–old schoolchildren, and how the schoolyard meets children’s preferences. One schoolyard was studied in each included country: Iceland, Norway, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The affordances, facilities, and equipment for PA in schoolyards were identified through orthophoto maps and standard registration forms. Children’s preferences were collected through group interviews at each participating school. A common design of schoolyards across countries indicated mostly flat topography with sparse vegetation and green areas dominated by large traditional sport arenas such as a football field, areas suitable for ball games, and track and field activities. Green spaces and varied topography were more prominent in Nordic countries. Across nationalities, the responses from pupils regarding the schoolyard were similar: they liked it though they wished for more variety of activities to do during recess. National regulations/recommendations for schoolyard design differed across the countries, being more restricted to sport fields and sport-related activities in Latvia and Lithuania, while in Nordic countries, the recommendations focused more on versatile schoolyard design.

Keywords: schoolyard; design; affordances; physical activity; pupils (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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