The relationship between children’s third-place play, parental neighbourhood perceptions, and children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviour

Abstract

This study takes a child-centred approach to examine the relationship between children’s third-place play, parents’ perceptions of their neighbourhood environment, and time spent by children in physical activity and sedentary behaviour during weekday out-of-school hours. A total of 1102 children aged 8–13 years from 19 schools across Auckland, New Zealand took part in a public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS) survey utilising closed- and open-ended questions and child mapping of destinations. The results suggested that playing in green places near home were associated with more time spent in light physical activity and less sedentary behaviour. Children who played in street places near home (e.g. driveways, footpath, carpark) spent more time in moderate to vigorous physical activity. Although parental perceptions of their neighbourhood environment were not directly associated with children’s time spent in physical activity, children with parents who perceived their neighbourhood as more connected were more likely to engage in third-place play.