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Objective This study reviewed (1) the effects of physical enrichment of (pre-)school playgrounds on children’s and adolescents’ movement behaviours and their cognitive, psychological, and social development, and (2) how enrichment characteristics influenced these outcomes. Methods A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. We searched 7 databases (SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus) and two reviewers independently screened studies for eligibility. Effect sizes of interventions were calculated using standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g) and tested using random-effects models. Meta-regression was used to explore heterogeneous findings. Narrative syntheses were conducted when meta-analysis was not possible. Results Twenty-eight studies and 19,753 participants were included. Three studies had low risk of bias, 11 studies had high risk of bias, while 14 studies had some concerns. The meta-analyses for movement behaviours showed significant increases in vigorous physical activity (VPA, n  = 7 studies, g = 0.17, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.06, 0.27), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA, n  = 17, g = 0.17, CI: 0.03, 0.30), and steps per minute ( n  = 3, g = 0.81, CI: 0.03, 1.59) for enrichment interventions relative to control conditions. The results for MVPA had large heterogeneity and were only significant short-term. Line markings alone or in combination with physical structures (e.g., climbing walls) increased MVPA, while involving end-users decreased MVPA. Line markings alone or in combination with physical structures or equipment increased VPA. There was no effect of enrichment for sedentary behaviour, low or moderate intensity physical activity. The results for cognitive (attention restoration and executive functioning), psychological (wellbeing and quality of life), and social (interactions, orientations, and bullying) development were mixed. Conclusion Our findings show that studies on physical enrichment had low methodological quality and findings had high heterogeneity. Line markings in isolation or combined with other enrichment strategies might increase levels of VPA and MVPA in children and adolescents. Evidence on cognitive, psychological and social development is inconclusive due to few and weak studies for these outcomes. We provide future directions for research and practice by drawing from the environmental enrichment paradigm. Trial registration PROSPERO registration number CRD42022364392.

To investigate cardiometabolic risk factor levels in a group of Norwegian 10-year-old children compared to international values and examine the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the reference-standardized clustered risk score. 913 children (49% girls) were included from the Active Smarter Kids (ASK) study. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC) to HDL-C ratio, triglyceride (TG), glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) score and CRF, were standardized according to international age-and sex-specific reference values. The Norwegian children had significantly more favorable WC, DBP, glucose, HDL-C and CRF levels compared to the international reference values, but similar or less favorable levels of other cardiometabolic risk factors. CRF was the variable that differed the most from the international values (mean (95% CI) 1.20 (1.16 to 1.24) SD). The clustered risk score (excluding CRF) was higher in the Norwegian children, but decreased to below international levels when including CRF (mean (95% CI) - 0.08 (- 0.12 to -0.05) SD). CRF had a significant inverse association with the clustered risk score (excluding CRF) (β - 0.37 SD, 95% CI -0.43 to -0.31). Norwegian children have substantially higher CRF levels than international standards, and including CRF in clustered risk scores reduces overall risk in Norwegian children below that of international levels. CRF is associated with improved cardiometabolic health in children.

Background Sleep, sedentary behaviour, physical activity, and the composition of these movement behaviours across the 24-h day are associated with cognitive function in early years children. This study used a Goldilocks day compositional data analysis approach to identify the optimal duration of sleep, sedentary behaviour, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity associated with desired cognitive function outcomes in early years children. Methods This cross-sectional study included 858 children aged 2.8–5.5 years from the Sleep and Activity Database for the Early Years. 24-h movement behaviours (sleep, sedentary behaviour, light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity) were measured using ActiGraph accelerometers. Cognitive function was measured using three tasks from the Early Years Toolbox: visual-spatial working memory, response inhibition, and expressive vocabulary. A Goldilocks day compositional data analysis approach was used in R software to identify the optimal time-use compositions associated with the best 10% of the cognitive function scores. Results The movement behaviour composition and the relative time spent in sleep and sedentary behaviour but not different intensities of physical activity were significantly associated with working memory (P ≤ 0.01). The movement behaviour composition and relative time spent in sleep, sedentary behaviour, and different intensities of physical activity were not significantly associated with response inhibition or expressive vocabulary ( P  > 0.2). Therefore, optimal time use was only determined for working memory. Optimal daily durations for working memory were observed with 11:00 (hr:min) of sleep, 5:42 of sedentary behaviour, 5:06 of light physical activity, and 2:12 of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Conclusion Working memory was the only cognitive function outcome related to the 24-h movement behaviour composition. Optimal sleep for working memory was consistent with current recommended durations, while optimal moderate-to-vigorous physical activity greatly exceeded minimal recommended levels. Optimal sedentary behaviour was longer and light physical activity was shorter than the sample average.

Background Fundamental motor skills (FMS) and physical fitness (FIT) play important roles in child development and provide a foundation for lifelong participation in physical activity (PA). Unfortunately, many children have suboptimal levels of PA, FMS, and FIT. The Active Learning Norwegian Preschool(er)s (ACTNOW) study investigated the effects of a staff-led PA intervention on FMS, FIT, and PA in 3–5-year-old children. Methods Preschools in Western Norway having ≥ six 3–4-year-old children were invited ( n  = 56). Of these, 46 agreed to participate and were cluster-randomized into an intervention ( n  = 23 preschools [381 children, 3.8 yrs., 55% boys]) or a control group ( n  = 23 [438, 3.7 yrs., 52% boys]). Intervention preschools participated in an 18-month PA intervention involving a 7-month staff professional development between 2019 and 2022, amounting to 50 h, including face-to-face seminars, webinars, and digital lectures. Primary outcomes in ACTNOW were cognition variables, whereas this study investigated effects on secondary outcomes. FMS was measured through 9 items covering locomotor, object control, and balance skills. FIT was assessed as motor fitness (4 × 10 shuttle-run test) and upper and lower muscular strength (handgrip and standing long jump). PA was measured with accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X +). All measures took place at baseline, 7-, and 18-month follow-up. Effects were analysed using a repeated measures linear mixed model with child and preschool as random effects and with adjustment for baseline scores. Results Participants in the intervention preschools showed positive, significant effects for object control skills at 7 months (standardized effect size (ES) = 0.17) and locomotor skills at 18 months (ES = 0.21) relative to controls. A negative effect was found for handgrip strength (ES = -0.16) at 7 months. No effects were found for balance skills, standing long jump, or motor fitness. During preschool hours, sedentary time decreased (ES = -0.18), and light (ES = 0.14) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (ES = 0.16) increased at 7 months, whereas light PA decreased at 18 months (ES = -0.15), for intervention vs control. No effects were found for other intensities or full day PA. Conclusions The ACTNOW intervention improved some FMS outcomes and increased PA short-term. Further research is needed to investigate how to improve effectiveness of staff-led PA interventions and achieve sustainable improvements in children’s PA, FMS, and FIT. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT04048967 , registered August 7, 2019. Funding ACTNOW was supported by the Research Council of Norway (grant number 287903), the County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane, the Sparebanken Sogn og Fjordane Foundation, and the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.