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 editors: Iivonen, Susanna; Niemistö, Donna; Sääkslahti, Arja; Kettukangas, Titta
Journal or series: Journal of Early Childhood Education Research
eISSN: 2323-7414
Publication year: 2021
Volume: 10
Issue number: 3
Pages range: 21-53
Publisher: Suomen varhaiskasvatus ry
Publication country: Finland
Publication language: English
Persistent website address: https://journal.fi/jecer/article/view/114169
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Open 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.
Keywords: children (age groups); preschool children (age group); physical activity; outdoor sports; outdoor games; circumstances; seasons; physical environment; sports grounds and physical exercise facilities; playsites; observation
Free keywords: physical activity; outdoor play; physical environment; observation
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
VIRTA submission year: 2021
JUFO rating: 1