The Effect of Physical Education Content on Children’s Activity During Recess

ABSTRACT

Background

Physical activity plays a crucial role for primary and secondary prevention of various chronic diseases that can lead to premature morbidity and mortality.

Purpose

This study was designed to investigate (a) elementary boys’ and girls’ voluntary participation in team handball during recess, while it was being simultaneously taught in physical education (the intervention phase) and after the physical education lessons had concluded (maintenance phase); and (b) the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels during physical education, team handball recess, and traditional recess.

Methods

One hundred thirty third grade elementary school children (53 girls, 77 boys) from six schools were taught a 10-lesson team handball unit during physical education. Ten team handball recess sessions (20 min) were organized during lunch recess in which children could voluntarily participate. Systematic observation was used to assess children’s MVPA in all settings.

Results

There were no significant differences between boys (49%) and girls (55%) for participation in team handball recess during intervention and maintenance phases. Boys achieved more MVPA in physical education (33% vs 29%, p < .001), team handball recess (52% versus 47%, p < .05) and traditional recess (51% versus 40%, p < .05) compared to girls.

Translation to Health Education Practice

Connecting recess to physical education creates an opportunity where children can voluntarily engage in activities they have learned, while enabling them to generate higher MVPA levels compared to traditional recess, especially for girls.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Vlaanderen (FWO), reference number 1S71122N. The authors would like to thank the schools, principals, teachers, children and parents for their willingness to participate in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Kian Vanluyten has an FWO fellowship and is affiliated at KU Leuven (Belgium). The reference number of this research grant is 1S71122N.