The DOI matches its Crossref record; 65 of the 66 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Sydney playground project: popping the bubblewrap – unleashing the power of play: a cluster randomized controlled trial of a primary school playground-based intervention aiming to increase children’s physical activity and social skills
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: In the Westernised world, numerous children are overweight and have problems with bullying and mental health. One of the underlying causes for all three is postulated to be a decrease in outdoor free play. The aim of the Sydney Playground Project is to demonstrate the effectiveness of two simple interventions aimed to increase children's physical activity and social skills. METHODS/DESIGN: This study protocol describes the design of a 3-year cluster randomised controlled trial (CRCT), in which schools are the clusters. The study consists of a 13-week intervention and 1 week each of pre-and post-testing. We are recruiting 12 schools (6 control; 6 intervention), with 18 randomly chosen participants aged 5 to 7 years in each school. The two intervention strategies are: (1) Child-based intervention: Unstructured materials with no obvious play value introduced to the playground; and (2) Adult-based intervention: Risk reframing sessions held with parents and teachers with the aim of exploring the benefits of allowing children to engage in activities with uncertain outcomes. The primary outcome of the study, physical activity as measured by accelerometer counts, is assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Additional assessments include social skills and interactions, self-concept, after school time use and anthropometric data. Qualitative data (i.e., transcriptions of audio recordings from the risk reframing sessions and of interviews with selected teacher and parent volunteers) are analysed to understand their perceptions of risk in play. The control schools have recess as usual. In addition to outcome evaluation, regular process evaluation sessions are held to monitor fidelity to the treatment. DISCUSSION: These simple interventions, which could be adopted in every primary school, have the potential of initiating a self-sustaining cycle of prevention for childhood obesity, bullying and mental ill health. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registration Number ACTRN12611000089932.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Figures
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“The results have shown that recess can be a healthy outlet for children”
From The LiiNK Project®: Effects of Multiple Recesses and Character Curriculum on Classroom Behaviors and Listening Skills in Grades K–2 Children (2018) · cites this paper as Bundy et al., 2011
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“it can increase physical activity on the playground”
From The LiiNK Project®: Effects of Multiple Recesses and Character Curriculum on Classroom Behaviors and Listening Skills in Grades K–2 Children (2018) · cites this paper as Bundy et al., 2011
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
On Happiness and Human Potentials: A Review of Research on Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141 · Cited by 11,567
The Disease Burden Associated With Overweight and Obesity
Must, A. (1999) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.282.16.1523 · Cited by 4,827
Physical Activity, All-Cause Mortality, and Longevity of College Alumni
Paffenbarger, R. S., Hyde, R., Wing, A. L., & Hsieh, C.-C. (1986) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm198603063141003 · Cited by 2,742
Calibration of two objective measures of physical activity for children
Evenson, K. R., Catellier, D. J., Gill, K., Ondrak, K. S., & McMurray, R. G. (2008) · Journal of Sports Sciences · doi:10.1080/02640410802334196 · Cited by 2,677
Spear, B. A., Winick, M., Phillips, C., & Wilfley, D. E. (1975) · Cited by 2,495
Studer, M., Asher, S. R., & Coie, J. D. (1991) · Contemporary Sociology A Journal of Reviews · doi:10.2307/2071877 · Cited by 2,267
Education and Treatment of Children
Hickman, J. A., & Wheatley, J. K. (2008) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9780470373699.speced0741 · Cited by 1,938
Early life risk factors for obesity in childhood: cohort study
Reilly, J. J., Armstrong, J., Dorosty, A. R., Emmett, P. M., Ness, A., Rogers, I., Steer, C., & Sherriff, A. (2005) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.38470.670903.e0 · Cited by 1,675
‘Discovering’ chronic illness: Using grounded theory
Charmaz, K. (1990) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/0277-9536(90)90256-r · Cited by 1,648
Andersen, L. B., Harro, M., Sardinha, L. B., Froberg, K., Ekelund, U., Brage, S., & Anderssen, S. A. (2006) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(06)69075-2 · Cited by 1,518
The Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children
Harter, S., & Pike, R. (1984) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1984.tb03895.x · Cited by 1,352
Sutton‐Smith, B. (2009) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.2307/j.ctv1q16s5b · Cited by 1,324
The Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children
Harter, S., & Pike, R. (1984) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1129772 · Cited by 1,111
Robinson, H. A. (1960) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/00005053-196001000-00018 · Cited by 987
“The Journal of Sports Sciences”
Robson, H. E. (1983) · British Journal of Sports Medicine · doi:10.1136/bjsm.17.4.161-a · Cited by 856
(2009) · Cited by 849
Sawyer, M. G., Arney, F., Baghurst, P., Clark, J. J., GRAETZ, B. W., Kosky, R. J., Nurcombe, B., Patton, G. C., Prior, M. R., Raphael, B., et al. (2001) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1046/j.1440-1614.2001.00964.x · Cited by 827
Playing it safe: The influence of neighbourhood safety on children's physical activity—A review
Carver, A., Timperio, A. F., & Crawford, D. A. (2007) · Health & Place · doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2007.06.004 · Cited by 739
Must, A., & Tybor, D. J. (2005) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803064 · Cited by 642
Resurrecting Free Play in Young Children
Burdette, H. L., & Whitaker, R. C. (2005) · Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine · doi:10.1001/archpedi.159.1.46 · Cited by 632
Speiser, P., RUDOLF, M. C. J., Anhalt, H., Camacho‐Hübner, C., Chiarelli, F., Eliakim, A., Freemark, M., Grüters, A., Hershkovitz, E., Iughetti, L., et al. (2005) · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1210/jc.2004-1389 · Cited by 579
Social Skills Improvement System—Rating Scales
Gresham, F. M., & Elliott, S. N. (2008) · PsycTESTS Dataset · doi:10.1037/t02650-000 · Cited by 577
Is the Canadian childhood obesity epidemic related to physical inactivity?
Tremblay, M. S., & Willms, J. D. (2003) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802376 · Cited by 540
Marx, G. T. (2005) · Encyclopedia of Social Theory · doi:10.4135/9781412952552.n303 · Cited by 456
The Childcare Environment and Children’s Physical Activity
Bower, J. K., Hales, D. P., Tate, D. F., Rubin, D. A., Benjamin, S. E., & Ward, D. S. (2008) · American Journal of Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2007.09.022 · Cited by 423
Ekelund, U., Sardinha, L. B., Anderssen, S. A., Harro, M., Franks, P. W., Brage, S., Cooper, A. R., Andersen, L. B., Riddoch, C., & Froberg, K. (2004) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/80.3.584 · Cited by 419
Verstraete, S. J. M., Cardon, G. M., De Clercq, D. L. R., & De Bourdeaudhuij, I. M. M. (2006) · European Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckl008 · Cited by 401
Consensus statement : Childhood obesity
Speiser, P., RUDOLF, M. C. J., Anhalt, H., Camacho‐Hübner, C., Chiarelli, F., Freemark, M., Grüters, A., Hershkovitz, E., Krude, H., Latzer, Y., et al. (2005) · Cited by 394
The effect of multicolor playground markings on children's physical activity level during recess
Stratton, G., & Mullan, E. (2005) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2005.07.009 · Cited by 297
The social skills problems of victims of bullying: Self, peer and teacher perceptions
Fox, C. L., & Boulton, M. J. (2005) · British Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.1348/000709905x25517 · Cited by 283
Ridgers, N. D., Stratton, G., Fairclough, S. J., & Twisk, J. W. R. (2007) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2007.01.009 · Cited by 282
Mental health of young people in Australia
SAWYER, M. G., Arney, F., Baghurst, P., Clark, J. J., GRAETZ, B. W., Kosky, R. J., Nurcombe, B., Patton, G. C., Prior, M. R., Raphael, B., et al. (2000) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e676582010-001 · Cited by 278
Grounds for movement: green school grounds as sites for promoting physical activity
Dyment, J. E., & Bell, A. C. (2007) · Health Education Research · doi:10.1093/her/cym059 · Cited by 268
Physical Risk-taking: Dangerous or endangered?
Stephenson, A. (2003) · Early Years Journal of International Research and Development · doi:10.1080/0957514032000045573 · Cited by 249
Children's Access to Local Environments: A case-study of Christchurch, New Zealand
Tranter, P., & Pawson, E. (2001) · Local Environment · doi:10.1080/13549830120024233 · Cited by 235
Self-citationSandseter, E. B. H. (2009) · Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning · doi:10.1080/14729670802702762 · Cited by 234
School Grounds as Sites for Learning: Making the most of environmental opportunities
Malone, K. A., & Tranter, P. (2003) · Environmental Education Research · doi:10.1080/13504620303459 · Cited by 230
Self-citationBundy, A. C., Luckett, T., Tranter, P., Naughton, G. A., Wyver, S. R., Ragen, J., & Spies, G. (2009) · International Journal of Early Years Education · doi:10.1080/09669760802699878 · Cited by 230
Self-citationMental health of children in foster and kinship care in New South Wales, Australia
Tarren‐Sweeney, M., & Hazell, P. (2006) · Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health · doi:10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00804.x · Cited by 208
Assessing physical activity during recess using accelerometry
Ridgers, N. D., Stratton, G., & Fairclough, S. J. (2004) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.10.023 · Cited by 207
The impact of play on development: A meta-analysis.
Fisher, E. P. (1992) · Cited by 206
The epidemiology of overweight and obesity among Australian children and adolescents, 1995‐97
Booth, M. L., Wake, M. A., Armstrong, T., Chey, T., Hesketh, K. D., & Mathur, S. (2001) · Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1111/j.1753-6405.2001.tb01840.x · Cited by 198
Landscape interventions: new directions for the design of children's outdoor play environments
Herrington, S., & Studtmann, K. (1998) · Landscape and Urban Planning · doi:10.1016/s0169-2046(98)00087-5 · Cited by 192
The Surveillance of Children's Mobility.
Fotel, T., & Thomsen, T. U. (2002) · Surveillance & Society · doi:10.24908/ss.v1i4.3335 · Cited by 187
Bullying among students and its consequences on health
Houbre, B., Tarquinio, C., Thuillier, I., & Hergott, E. (2006) · European Journal of Psychology of Education · doi:10.1007/bf03173576 · Cited by 185
Childhood obesity in Europe: a growing concern
Livingstone, M. (2001) · Public Health Nutrition · doi:10.1079/phn2000106 · Cited by 183
Stratton, G. (2000) · Ergonomics · doi:10.1080/001401300750003961 · Cited by 181
The relationship between school ground design and intensity of physical activity
Dyment, J. E., Bell, A. C., & Lucas, A. J. (2009) · Children s Geographies · doi:10.1080/14733280903024423 · Cited by 180
Creating Child Friendly Cities
Gleeson, B. J., & Sipe, N. (2006) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203087176 · Cited by 171
Ten Years After: A Reexamination of Symbolic Play and Literacy Research
Pellegrini, A. D., & Galda, L. (1993) · Reading Research Quarterly · doi:10.2307/747887 · Cited by 167
Geographies of environmental learning: an exploration of children's use of school grounds
Tranter, P., & Malone, K. A. (2004) · Children s Geographies · doi:10.1080/1473328032000168813 · Cited by 140
Self-citationvan der Ploeg, H. P., Merom, D., Chau, J. Y., Bittman, M., Trost, S. G., & Bauman, A. E. (2010) · American Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/aje/kwq265 · Cited by 135
Self-citationMullins, L. L., Wolfe-Christensen, C. B., Pai, A. L. H., Carpentier, M. Y., Gillaspy, S. R., Cheek, J., & Page, M. C. (2007) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsm044 · Cited by 127
Brage, S., Wedderkopp, N., Ekelund, U., Franks, P. W., Wareham, N. J., Andersen, L. B., & Froberg, K. (2004) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802772 · Cited by 107
Prevention of Childhood Obesity
Dietz, W. H. (1986) · Pediatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/s0031-3955(16)36075-8 · Cited by 96
Playful Interaction: Occupational Therapy for All Children on the School Playground
Bundy, A. C., Luckett, T., Naughton, G. A., Tranter, P., Wyver, S. R., Ragen, J., Singleton, E., & Spies, G. (2008) · American Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.5014/ajot.62.5.522 · Cited by 94
Self-citationPrevention of childhood obesity
Ells, L. J., Campbell, K. J., Lidstone, J. S. M., Kelly, S. A., Lang, R., & Summerbell, C. D. (2005) · Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · doi:10.1016/j.beem.2005.04.008 · Cited by 67
The European Youth Heart Study (EYHS)
Sjöstróm, M., Bergman, P., Hagströmer, M., Hurtig‐Wennlöf, A., Oja, P., Ortega, F. B., Meusel, D., Nilsson, T. K., Patterson, E., Poortvliet, E., et al. (2006) · Cited by 43
Houbre, B., Tarquinio, C., & Lanfranchi, J. (2010) · European Journal of Psychology of Education · doi:10.1007/s10212-009-0005-x · Cited by 40
Overcoming social traps: A key to creating child friendly cities
Tranter, P. (2006) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203087176-19 · Cited by 33
Self-citationPrevalence of Overweight and Obesity In School-aged Children
He, M., & Beynon, C. E. (2006) · Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research · doi:10.3148/67.3.2006.125 · Cited by 25
Aitken, R. J., King, L. A., & Bauman, A. E. (2008) · Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1111/j.1753-6405.2008.00222.x · Cited by 12
Self-citationMusic in the Early Childhood Classroom: An Expressive Medium
Barrett, M. S. (1993) · eCite Digital Repository (University of Tasmania) · Cited by 8
Hüber, G., & And, O. (1996) · Education and Treatment of Children · Cited by 7
Chapter Four Chemistry on Organofunctionalized Nanostructured Oxides’ Surfaces
de Farias, R. F. (2008) · Interface science and technology · doi:10.1016/s1573-4285(08)10004-7 · Cited by 1
Research works printed but not linked: 8
- Ball DJ: Play and risk - In search of new ground. 2010, Fremantle
- Battles J: School ban running over lawsuit fears. The Sunday Times. 2004
- O'Hagan R: No playing in the playground? So what's it actually for?. MailOnline. 2010
- Walsh P: Fixed equipment: a time for change. Australian Journal of Early Childhood. 1993, 18: 23-29.
- Stratton M, Conn L, Liaw C, Conolly L: Sport and Related Recreational Physical Activity - The Social Correlates of Participation and Non-Participation. 2005
- Bundy AC, Luckett T, Naughton GA, Tranter PJ, Wyver SR, Ragen J, Singleton E, Spies G: Playful Interaction: Occupational Therapy for All Children on the School Playground. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2008, 62: 522- · DOI
- Armitage M: Play pods in schools: an independent evaluation. 2010
- Gresham FM, Elliott SN: Manual for The Social Skills Ratings System. 1990, Circle Pines, MN
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Interventions for preventing obesity in children
Brown, T. J., Moore, T. H., Hooper, L., Gao, Y., Zayegh, A. M., Ijaz, S., Elwenspoek, M. M. C., Foxen, S. C., Magee, L., O’Malley, C. L., et al. (2019) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd001871.pub4 · Cited by 3,054
Position Statement on Active Outdoor Play
Tremblay, M. S., Gray, C. E., Babcock, S., Barnes, J. D., Costas-Bradstreet, C., Carr, D., Chabot, G., Choquette, L., Chorney, D. W., Collyer, C., et al. (2015) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph120606475 · Cited by 552
Risky Play and Children’s Safety: Balancing Priorities for Optimal Child Development
BRUSSONI, M. J., Olsen, L. L., Pike, I., & Sleet, D. A. (2012) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph9093134 · Cited by 449
Brussoni, M., Ishikawa, T., Brunelle, S., & Herrington, S. (2017) · Journal of Environmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2017.11.001 · Cited by 186
Engelen, L., Bundy, A. C., Naughton, G., Simpson, J. M., Bauman, A., Ragen, J., Baur, L., Wyver, S., Tranter, P., Niehues, A., et al. (2013) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.02.007 · Cited by 152
Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Bundy, A. C., Naughton, G., Tranter, P., Wyver, S., Baur, L., Schiller, W., Bauman, A., Engelen, L., Ragen, J., Luckett, T., Niehues, A., Stewart, G., Jessup, G., & Brentnall, J.
- Affiliations
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Australian Catholic University (AU)
- UNSW Canberra (AU)
- Macquarie University (AU)
- University of South Australia (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Bundy, Anita C
- ORCID
- Venue
- BMC Public Health
- Published
- 2011-09-01
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 680-680
- ISSN
- 1471-2458 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3188492
- OpenAlex
- W2161869905
- Cited by
- 105
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 2.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
- Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion)
- Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- UTS ePRESS (University of Technology Sydney) (submittedVersion)
- OPUS - Open Publications of UTS Scholars (University of Technology Sydney) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Medical Research Council
- Australian Research Council (DP0877590)
- National Health and Medical Research Council (570808)
- National Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Social Sciences › Education › Child Development and Education
- Keywords
- free play, children's physical activity, social skills, childhood obesity prevention, bullying prevention, child mental health, elementary school students, self-concept
- MeSH terms
- Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Health Promotion, Humans, Male, Mental Health, New South Wales, Play and Playthings, Schools, Socialization, Exercise, Cluster Analysis, Overweight, Bullying
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
