A Systematic Review on the Associations Between Playground Features and Children’s Physical Activity Levels

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) is essential for children’s healthy development; however, many of them fail to achieve the suggested levels of activity due to an increase in sedentary behaviors. Playgrounds are pivotal for promoting PA among children. Nevertheless, the relationship between playground features and children’s PA levels remains intricate and not fully elucidated. This review comprehensively analyzed 65 research articles exploring the multifaceted factors influencing children’s engagement in PA within playgrounds. These factors include independent variables such as playground size, facilities, environment factors, and renovation, alongside moderating variables like age, gender, children’s interactions, parental behaviors, and socio-economic factors. Despite extensive research efforts in this domain, existing findings remain fragmented and at times contradictory. For instance, studies disagree on whether larger playgrounds and natural elements consistently enhance children’s PA, and how facility preferences differ between boys and girls. This review proposes a comprehensive framework delineating the key variables influencing children’s PA levels in playgrounds with different features. The aim is to advance understanding of how playground characteristics affect PA levels and to provide evidence to inform future playground design and planning for public health.