Physical activity play in local housing estates and child wellness in Ireland

Abstract

Much of children's play involves physical activity, such as chasing games (Barron, 2011) and climbing (Smith, 2010). Despite this fact, physical activity play has to-date largely been ignored in relation to studies of physical activity in children in the prevention and treatment of childhood overweight and obesity. This paper focuses on the physical activity play of children in middle childhood (8–13 years) in Ireland within local housing estates. The study sought first to identify both the preferred forms of physical activity play as well as the physical spaces in which this play occurs, and second to provide insight for national policy in relation to child wellness and obesity prevention or intervention in childhood.

Keywords:

• physical activity play
• childhood obesity
• play spaces
• housing estate

Notes on contributor

Carol Barron is an anthropologist and lecturer in the School of Nursing and Human Science in Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland. Her research interests are children and play and research methodologies with children and young people. She is the chairperson of Súgradh, which is the National organization which promotes play in Ireland. She is currently widening her studies, undertaking a course in folklore, focusing on children's oral narratives in play.