Painted Playgrounds Aim 1

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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
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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.

Official Title
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Painted Playgrounds: A Scalable Approach to Increasing Physical Activity and Motor Skills in Louisiana Preschool Aged Children. Aim 1: Observation

Conditions
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Childhood Obesity

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 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 Exclusion Criteria: Childcare center and/or childcare center director are unwilling to participate
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Observation<br>All childcare centers enrolled to Aim 1 will be observed. The physical activity environment will be examined before and after the implementation of playground stencils. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in children's physical activity levels during recess | The investigators will observe and systematically document physical activity levels and the number of children participating in physical activity during recess before and after the implementation of a playground stenciling intervention. The observation will be performed using a modified version of the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY). | Centers will be examined at baseline and 6-8 weeks after receiving the stencils. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Childcare Center Physical Activity Environment | 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. | Baseline | 
| Satisfaction with Playground Stencils | Childcare center directors will complete a survey to measure their satisfaction and perceptions of teacher's satisfaction with the playground stencils. | 6-8 weeks after receiving the playground stencils. | 
| Childcare Center Resources for Physical Activity | Project staff will evaluate the availability of resources (i.e. playground space, equipment, etc.) at each childcare center. | Baseline |