Research

Play Active builds on 10 years of research involving extensive consultation with stakeholders to develop an evidence based ECEC physical activity policy.
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Researching for a Healthier Future in Early Childhood

Discover how Play Active is pioneering research with the Telethon Kids Institute and the University of Western Australia to enhance physical activity and health outcomes for young children across Australia.

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Our findings to date

Our research identified children weren’t getting enough energetic play at ECEC, and only 16% of services mentioned children’s physical activity in their policies.

With no existing ECEC-specific policy and program to support children’s physical activity, we collaborated with multi-sector partner organisations to develop Play Active and aligned it with the Early Years Learning Framework and National Quality Standards.

  • 100% of intervention services adopted the Play Active policy
  • Uptake of the Play Active policy led to greater adoption of high-impact physical activity practices
  • Satisfaction rates were high – 83% of Educators and 78% of Directors were satisfied with Play Active

Participant information

By becoming a Play Active member you will be contributing to important research on improving children’s physical activity levels, health and development.

This research is being conducted by the Telethon Kids Institute and the University of Western Australia in collaboration with our sector, supporting, research and funding partners across Australia.

Participant Information Form
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Our Partners

Play Active has long-standing partnerships across the early childhood, health promotion, play and government sectors, alongside world leading research organisations.

Research References

Explore the foundational studies and key references that underpin our evidence-based approach to enhancing physical activity in early childhood.

Wenden E…Christian H. Educators’ Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity Policy Implementation in the Childcare Setting: Qualitative Findings From the Play Active Project. AmJHealthPromot. 2022.

Educators’ Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity Policy Implementation in the Childcare Setting: Qualitative Findings From the Play Active Project – PubMed (nih.gov)

Christian HE…Schipperijn J et al. Development of physical activity policy and implementation strategies for early childhood education and care settings using the Delphi process. IntJBehaviNutrPhysAct. 2020. 3

Development of physical activity policy and implementation strategies for early childhood education and care settings using the Delphi process – PubMed (nih.gov)

Nathan A…Trost S…Schipperijn J, McLaughlin M, et al. Evaluating the effectiveness of the Play Active policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: a pragmatic cluster randomised trial protocol. BMCPublicHealth. 2022.

Evaluating the effectiveness of the Play Active policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: a pragmatic cluster randomised trial protocol – PubMed (nih.gov)

Adams, E.K., Nathan, A., Trost, S.G. et al. Play Active physical activity policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: results from a pragmatic cluster randomised trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 20, 46 (2023).

Play Active physical activity policy intervention and implementation support in early childhood education and care: results from a pragmatic cluster randomised trial – PubMed (nih.gov)