Efficacy and feasibility of lowering playground density to promote physical activity and to discourage sedentary time during recess at preschool: A pilot study

Abstract Objective This pilot study examined if lowering playground density is feasible and effective in improving preschoolers' activity and sedentary levels during recess. Method Between November and December 2011, a within-subject design was used to study preschoolers' activity via accelerometry during recesses in the usual conditions (baseline) and with lower playground density (intervention). During the intervention, preschools scheduled extra recesses so that the number of classes usually sharing the playground was halved. Effects were investigated, using two-level linear regression models, in 128 4- to 6-year-old children (69 boys) from 4 preschools in Ghent, Belgium. The four preschool principals filled in a questionnaire after the intervention. Results At baseline, available play space was on average 7.4 (SD = 1.7) m2 /child; during the intervention this increased to 16.7 (SD = 5.1) m2 /child. The intervention was effective in decreasing sedentary time (− 1 min; − 5.1%) and increasing light-to-vigorous (+ 1 min; + 5.1%) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (+ 0.8 min; + 4.8%) during recess. None found it difficult to implement the intervention. All agreed it was possible to use this strategy in the future. Conclusions Although it was feasible to implement this intervention, improvements in preschoolers' activity levels were small. This intervention could especially be important for preschools with higher playground density.