Painted Playgrounds Aim 1
- Conditions
- Childhood Obesity
- Registration Number
- NCT03890913
- Lead Sponsor
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center
- Brief Summary
Painted Playgrounds Aim 1: Observation will examine the physical environment of licensed childcare centers before and after painting stencil activities (hopscotch, foursquare, fun trails, etc.) on playgrounds. The stencils are a promising intervention to help decrease obesity and sedentary behaviors in preschool aged children because they are cost-effective and easily scalable. Observations will be held at follow-ups by video recording during recess and using a modified behavioral observation method, called SOPLAY. Surveys will be administered to childcare center directors to report further on their physical activity environment and how much they are interacting with the stencils.
- Detailed Description
Preschool is a critical period during which children develop fundamental motor skills, build confidence in their movement, and start a physical activity trajectory that follows through adolescence and beyond. Unfortunately, few sustainable interventions have succeeded in increasing preschool children's physical activity, and subsequently children are developing obesity at alarming rates. A simple, low-cost strategy is the addition of colorful markings (i.e. hopscotch, foursquare, fun trails) to existing playgrounds or open spaces. These "painted playgrounds" have been shown to be effective to increase physical activity in older school-aged children but remain understudied in preschool children. The proposed project will examine the physical activity environment of licensed childcare centers before and after the implementation of a promising (cost-effective, easily scalable) playground stenciling intervention.
The project aim will be achieved through a prospective observational epidemiological approach before and after a stenciling intervention is implemented. Among 4 childcare centers licensed in East Baton Rouge Parish (EBR), the investigators will first observe the playground environment to assess the equipment, space, ground material, etc. to provide a baseline measure of the physical activity environment prior to stenciling and ensure that intervention and control centers have similar playground environments. A modified behavioral observation method, the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY), will be used during recess to identify changes in physical activity after the stencils are added and which stencils are generating the biggest changes in physical activity. Surveys will be administered to center directors to further understand the physical activity environment (i.e. policies, additional PA support, etc.) in each center. This project will examine how a promising (cost-effective, easily scalable) playground stenciling intervention changes the physical activity landscape of childcare centers in order to provide evidence for the need for dissemination to numerous childcare centers across Louisiana. Ultimately, this pilot may launch an innovative strategy that has the potential to disrupt negative trends in obesity and sedentary behavior among Louisiana preschoolers.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 51
- Licensed by DOE as a Class A or Class B childcare center
- Current childcare enrollment of at least 20 children between the ages of 3-6 years
- Has a playground/play area with adequate space for stenciling
- Childcare center and/or childcare center director are unwilling to participate
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Children's Physical Activity Levels During Recess Children will be examined at follow up (6-8 weeks after receiving the stencils) The investigators will observe the number of children participating in physical activity during recess before and after the implementation of a playground stenciling intervention to asses for change. The observation will be performed using a modified version of the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY). SOPLAY is an observational tool designed to assess physical activity levels \& environmental conditions in settings where youth are engaged in play and leisure. SOPLAY is typically used to capture data on physical activity levels, the type of activity, and environmental factors that may influence youth activity. SOPLAY does not produce a single cumulative "score" but instead provides a detailed record of activity levels and environmental conditions. The data is typically analyzed to assess patterns, identify factors that promote or inhibit physical activity, and guide interventions to improve youth physical activity engagement.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Childcare Center Physical Activity Environment Baseline Childcare center directors will complete a survey assessing the physical activity environment (e.g. policies for outdoor play and screen time, available equipment, teacher engagement in physical activity, etc.) of their childcare center.
Satisfaction With Playground Stencils 6-8 weeks after receiving the playground stencils. Intervention Childcare center directors will complete a survey to measure their satisfaction and perceptions of teacher's satisfaction with the playground stencils.
Childcare Center Resources for Physical Activity Baseline Project staff will evaluate the availability of resources (i.e. playground space, equipment, etc.) at each childcare center.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
🇺🇸Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States