Plain Language Summary: Associations between natural blue and green space and preschool children’s movement behaviours.

By Phoebe George, Kevin Murray, Stewart G, Trost, Bryan Boruff, and Hayley Christian.

Read the full paper here.

For adults, research shows that natural outdoor environments are important places to engage in physical activity. However, it is unclear if this holds true for preschool children. The early years are an important time to establish healthy movement behaviours, as well as establishing nature experiences and connection.

To understand if access to natural spaces in their neighbourhood could influence how young children move, we examined associations between the amount and type of neighbourhood vegetation and water features (blue spaces), proximity to the beach, and the preschooler’s movement behaviours.

We found that higher amounts of neighbourhood vegetation (grass, shrubs, and trees) were associated with lower amounts of sedentary time and higher amounts of walking in preschool boys. Higher amounts of grass were positively associated with preschool girls moderate-to-vigorous activities and games. Certain types of blue spaces (such as rivers, lakes and swamps, and dog beaches) were associated with both positive and negative movement behaviours. Rivers were associated with increases in walking in preschool girls. Rivers were also associated with lower amounts of running in preschool boys and lower amounts of moderate-to-vigorous activities and games in preschool girls. Lakes and swamps were associated with a decrease in time walking amongst preschool boys. Amongst preschool boys who owned a dog, living closer to a dog beach were associated with lower amounts of sedentary time.

Further investigation into how the features in and around green and blue spaces, such as biodiversity, walkways, and playgrounds, support and hinder preschool children’s physical activity is needed. Further research is also needed into why this may be different for boys and girls.  Nonetheless, this study suggests access to different types of these spaces is important from a young age and provides preliminary evidence that could be collated with other evidence to inform future policy around managing and protecting blue and green spaces.