Article,
Association between preschooler outdoor play and home yard vegetation as measured by high resolution imagery: Findings from the PLAYCE study
Contributors
Robinson, Trina
0000-0003-2638-958X
(Corresponding author)
[1]
[2]
Murray, Kevin
0000-0002-8856-6046
[1]
Boruff, Bryan
0000-0001-6693-0671
[1]
Duncan, John
0000-0001-8495-7149
[1]
Schipperijn, Jasper
0000-0002-6558-7610
[3]
Christian, Hayley
0000-0001-8486-5746
[1]
[2]
Affiliations
- [1] Univ Western Australia, Sch Agr & Environm, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia [NORA names: Australia; Oceania; OECD];
- [2] Univ Western Australia, Telethon Kids Inst, Northern Entrance Perth Childrens Hosp, 15 Hosp Ave, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia [NORA names: Australia; Oceania; OECD];
- [3] Univ Southern Denmark, Dept Sports Sci & Clin Biomech, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense, Denmark [NORA names: SDU University of Southern Denmark; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]
Abstract
Outdoor play in the home yard is an important source of physical activity for many preschoolers. This study investigated if home yard size and vegetation are related to preschooler outdoor play time. High-resolution remotely sensed data were used to distinguish between types of vegetation coverage in the home yard. Shrub and tree cover, and yard size, were positively associated with outdoor play. Following stratification by socioeconomic status (SES - parent education), only tree cover was positively associated with preschooler outdoor play in low SES households. All types of vegetation cover were positively associated with preschooler outdoor play in higher SES households. This study highlights the importance of larger yard sizes and higher levels of vegetation for facilitating outdoor play in preschoolers.
