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    Playgrounds Can Improve Health

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    Leeds Metropolitan University
    Child obesity could be significantly reduced – and participation in the classroom increased – by the installation of specially designed playground facilities in schools, according to research by Leeds Metropolitan University.

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    Playgrounds Can Improve Health

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    Leeds Metropolitan University
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    Child obesity could be significantly reduced – and participation in the classroom increased – by the installation of specially designed playground facilities in schools, according to research by Leeds Metropolitan University.

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    Child obesity could be significantly reduced – and participation in the classroom increased – by the installation of specially designed playground facilities in schools, according to research by Leeds Metropolitan University.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    58 views2 pages

    Playgrounds Can Improve Health

    Uploaded by

    Leeds Metropolitan University
    Child obesity could be significantly reduced – and participation in the classroom increased – by the installation of specially designed playground facilities in schools, according to research by Leeds Metropolitan University.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    March 2011

    For immediate release

    Playgrounds increase fitness and performance in the classroom

    Child obesity could be significantly reduced – and participation in the classroom increased –
    by the installation of specially designed playground facilities in schools, according to
    research by Leeds Metropolitan University.

    Professor Jim McKenna, Professor of Sport at Leeds Metropolitan University, who


    specialises in promoting physical activity, found that for every class of 28 the equivalent of 4
    ‘inactive’ pupils became more active in response to new playground facilities. In addition,
    independent observers, class teachers and head teachers all reported that pupils increased
    playground participation and enjoyment during class.

    Professor McKenna said: “As well as noticing how children had become more active after
    the new playgrounds were installed, both teachers and head teachers noted important spin-
    off benefits for school behaviour. These benefits included better classroom behaviour and
    more sociable and collaborative play periods. A number also reported seeing more potential
    among some children because of their changed behaviour in the playground. Some schools
    even changed their pre-school practices to open earlier (at 8am) to allow children increased
    access to the playgrounds.”

    Up to now, female participation in physical activity at break times had been a long-standing
    problem. Yet, both boys and girls increased their participation equally. Across the schools,
    the biggest changes in child behaviour occurred when schools changed their systems and
    trained members of staff to work with pupils at break times.

    The 12 month study monitored the installation of new playground facilities in 163 schools in
    the South East through interviews with pupils and teachers and through observations.

    Professor McKenna added: “There are growing concerns about childhood inactivity and
    accompanying rates of childhood obesity. This study shows the value of investing in
    rejuvenating decaying playgrounds in state schools. Children not only became more active,
    but also their classroom behaviour improved and this effect was reported by independent
    observers, by class teachers and by head teachers. This makes the findings all the more
    credible. Despite funding shortages the findings suggest that playground rejuvenation is one
    of the best - and cheapest - ways to make a difference to pupils’ health and their experience
    of school. The study also poses some interesting questions about what others ways might
    be used to encourage exercising among pupils. These changes may offer more keys that
    unlock the problems of inactivity, obesity and poor classroom behaviour.”

    Ends

    For further details please contact Helen Goodwin in the News and Media team at Leeds Met
    on 0113 812 5935 or email h.g.goodwin@leedsmet.ac.uk

    Notes for editors:

     Leeds Metropolitan University has 30,000 students and over 300,000 associate
    students through its partnerships with 24 colleges.
     The University has achieved its best ever Research Assessment Exercise results.
    Sports-Related Studies is in the top 6 institutions in the country with research rated at
    the highest levels of 4* and 3*.
     The University’s award-winning learning environments include the iconic Rose Bowl
    building, awarded Best Commercial Property Development in the 2009 Yorkshire
    Property Awards; Broadcasting Place, winner of the 2010 Leeds Architecture Awards
    New Building category and the pioneering Carnegie Village student accommodation.
    Broadcasting Place was also voted the best tall building in the world in 2010.
     Leeds Metropolitan is one of only a handful of UK universities to have been awarded
    the Carbon Trust Standard.
     The University is home to The UK Centre for Coaching Excellence for sport and
    disability sport and is 2nd in the British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS)
    rankings.

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