A1 Journal article (refereed)
What makes John move? : outdoor play physical environmental factors changing a child’s activity from sedentary to physically active : longitudinal mixed-method case study (2021)


Iivonen, S., Niemistö, D., Sääkslahti, A., & Kettukangas, T. (2021). What makes John move? : outdoor play physical environmental factors changing a child’s activity from sedentary to physically active : longitudinal mixed-method case study. Journal of Early Childhood Education Research, 10(3), 21-53. https://journal.fi/jecer/article/view/114169


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editorsIivonen, Susanna; Niemistö, Donna; Sääkslahti, Arja; Kettukangas, Titta

Journal or seriesJournal of Early Childhood Education Research

eISSN2323-7414

Publication year2021

Volume10

Issue number3

Pages range21-53

PublisherSuomen varhaiskasvatus ry

Publication countryFinland

Publication languageEnglish

Persistent website addresshttps://journal.fi/jecer/article/view/114169

Publication open accessOpenly available

Publication channel open accessOpen Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX)https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/77081


Abstract

Children’s low physical activity levels call for an investigation of what can promote activity for excessively sedentary children. The purpose of this longitudinal mixed-method case study in an early childhood education (ECE) environment was to observe one sedentary child’s free outdoor playtime in four seasons and determine the physical environmental factors changing his activity from sedentary to physically active. Systematic observation of video material and quantitative analysis were used to identify the most sedentary individual of the one ECE group. The child was named “John”. Qualitative analysis of John’s video material showed that during the four seasons he spent an average of 25% of the playtime doing sedentary activity and 75% of the playtime doing physically active activity during 60-minute free outdoor play sessions. There were a total of 71 physical environmental factors related to John’s change in outdoor activity in the various seasons: man-made objects, such as play equipment, observed 28 times (39%); natural materials, such as water, sand and snow, observed 25 times (35%); and free spaces in the yard observed 18 times (26%). The number of factors was highest in the summer and lowest in the spring. Seasonal changes and conditions unique to Scandinavia may make outdoor play environment in ECE physically activating.


Keywordschildren (age groups)preschool children (age group)physical activityoutdoor sportsoutdoor gamescircumstancesseasonsphysical environmentsports grounds and physical exercise facilitiesplaysitesobservation

Free keywordsphysical activity; outdoor play; physical environment; observation


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

VIRTA submission year2021

JUFO rating1


Last updated on 2024-12-10 at 10:01