The variability and correlates of outdoor play in preschool-aged children

This study examined the variability, convergent validity and correlates of outdoor play (OP) in preschool-aged children. Participants were 107 preschool-aged children (3–5 years) and their parents from Edmonton, Canada, and surrounding areas. Children’s OP was measured via a parental questionnaire and the lux feature of ActiGraph accelerometers (n=98). Correlates from various levels of the socioecological framework were measured. Children had significantly higher OP in summer/fall months (versus winter months), on weekend days (versus weekdays), and when parental-reported (versus device-measured). Parental age was positively associated with children’s parental-reported OP on weekend days, and temperature was positively associated with children’s parental-reported OP in summer/fall months. Higher temperature was associated with a higher likelihood of children participating in ≥30 minutes/day of device-based measured OP (versus <30 minutes/day). Implementing interventions to promote OP in all weather, and days of the week, may help reverse the declining trend of children’s OP.