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 variouschronic diseases that can lead to premature morbidity and mortality.Purpose: This study was designed to investigate (a) elementary boys’ and girls’ voluntary partici-pation in team handball during recess, while it was being simultaneously taught in physicaleducation (the intervention phase) and after the physical education lessons had concluded(maintenance phase); and (b) the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels duringphysical education, team handball recess, and traditional recess.Methods: One hundred thirty third grade elementary school children (53 girls, 77 boys) from sixschools were taught a 10-lesson team handball unit during physical education. Ten team handballrecess sessions (20 min) were organized during lunch recess in which children could voluntarilyparticipate. 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 participationin team handball recess during intervention and maintenance phases. Boys achieved more MVPAin physical education (33% vs 29%, p < .001), team handball recess (52% versus 47%, p < .05) andtraditional recess (51% versus 40%, p < .05) compared to girls.Translation to Health Education Practice: Connecting recess to physical education creates anopportunity where children can voluntarily engage in activities they have learned, while enablingthem to generate higher MVPA levels compared to traditional recess, especially for girls