Partnership studies benefits of indoor play centres
York
St John University has joined forces with the Play Providers
Association (PPA) to carry out studies into the benefits of indoor
play on a child’s health and wellbeing.
The studies will be carried out by the Faculty
of Health & Life Sciences, which is led by Dean of Faculty,
Professor Pamela Dawson. Research begins in September and will
involve York St John students and lecturers leading projects at
Creepy Crawlies play centre and adventure park in York.
Andy Buckton, Senior Lecturer in Sport at York
St John University, will measure physical activity of children
during free play. Andy hopes that his study will help to develop an
understanding of the contribution that this form of play provides
in reaching Department of Health recommended levels of physical
activity. He said:
“This is a great opportunity to examine the
physical activity that occurs during visits to play centres and
helps to identify the role PPA members can have in enabling more
children to engage in sufficient physical activity - both for
immediate health benefits and in establishing longer term health
related behaviour.”
Another study will focus on the role that
indoor play has in developing and building movement skills.
Evidence suggests that nearly 5% of children have developmental
coordination disorder, which restricts their successful
participation in school-based PE lessons and break-time activities
where coordination is paramount. Lois Addy, Senior Lecturer and
Advanced Clinical Occupational Therapist, will work with
Occupational Therapy students to create a series of graded and
structured play circuits at Creepy Crawlies to extend the skills of
children. Lois said:
“It is important to provide these types of
therapies in a natural context in order to promote both social and
educational inclusion. We are providing York St John students with
a unique chance to be involved in this new partnership with the PPA
and we’re delighted to be working with Creepy Crawlies to kick the
studies off.”
The PPA represents over 150 play centres
nationwide and has recently undertaken a campaign to raise the
profile of indoor play and its role in improving children’s health
and well-being. Indoor play sessions, which are typically two hours
in length, provide well in excess of a child’s recommended 60
active minutes of exercise.
Janice Dunphy, chair of the PPA and owner of
Creepy Crawlies in York commented that the new project was vital to
the future of the sector. She said:
“Indoor play has been trying to align with the
health agenda for a couple of years now and with our proven
successful campaigns in support of Change4Life we have shown the
value of indoor play. Simple observation shows us that play is
great for a child’s health, however without the necessary data and
research we will be unable to convince commissioners that exercise,
more specifically play, in our accredited PPA sites, is a viable
investment.”
She added:
“This is why we are so pleased to announce
this new partnership which will give our members the tools to be
able to inform their customers of the health benefit of their
centres. We ultimately aim for GPs to be able to offer ‘play on
prescription’ so that everyone can access our facilities and so
that children can have a healthier start in their lives.”
For further information please contact Amy Hall, PR
& Communications Officer on T: 01904 876466 or E: a.hall@yorksj.ac.uk
