Are Parental Perceptions of Risk and Attitudes Toward Risk-Taking During Play Associated with Preschoolers’ Physical Activity and Physical Literacy?

Q: What is the study’s main purpose?

To determine whether parental perceptions of risk and attitudes toward risk-taking during play are associated with preschoolers’ physical activity and physical literacy.

Q: How were the data collected and analyzed?

Preschoolers and their parents provided data, and linear regressions tested associations between risk perceptions/attitudes and children’s physical activity and physical literacy while controlling for children’s age (cross-sectional, p<0.05).

Q: What key relationships were found in the results?

Parental risk perceptions were significantly associated with preschoolers’ physical activity (r=0.24, p=0.05) and predicted 11.6% of its variance. Attitudes toward risky play showed a significant positive relationship with physical literacy (r=0.21, p=0.05), explaining 14.7% of its variance.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Danger Angel

The study examines whether parental perceptions of risk and attitudes toward risk-taking during play are linked to preschoolers’ physical activity and physical literacy. Data were collected from Nova Scotia preschoolers (35 boys, 17 girls; mean age 3.8 years) and 52 parent pairs. Linear regressions assessed associations while controlling for children’s age (cross-sectional, p<0.05). Risk perceptions related to physical activity (r=0.24), and risky-play attitudes related positively to physical literacy (r=0.21).

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Early childhood physical activity and play

Outdoor play and safety concerns

Distinguishing risk from danger and hazards

Are Parental Perceptions of Risk and Attitudes Toward RiskTaking During Play Associated with Preschoolers’ Physical Activity and Physical Literacy? Michelle R. Stone, Dalhousie University, Natasha Webber, Queen’s University, Jane Cawley, Dalhousie University, Natalie E. Houser, University of Saskatchewan, & Sara F.L. Kirk, Dalhousie University, Canada Abstract Purpose: To explore whether parental perceptions of risk and attitudes toward risk-taking during play are associated with preschoolers’ physical activity (PA) and physical literacy (PL) . Methods: Nova Scotia preschoolers (35 boys, 17 girls; mean age = 3.8 years, range = 3–5 years) and parents (n=52 pairs) provided data. Linear regressions assessed associations of risk perceptions and attitudes with children’s PA and PL, controlling for children’s age (cross-sectional analysis; p<0.05) . Results: Perceptions of risk were significantly associated with preschoolers’PA (r=0.24, p=0.05), and predicted 11.6% of the variance in PA. Findings revealed a significant positive relationship between attitudes toward risky play and PL (r=0.21, p=0.05), explaining 14.7% of the variance in PL. Conclusion: This evidence supports growing literature on the value of risky play to children’s development and parents’ influence in risk-taking behaviour. Resumé Objectif : Explorer l’association possible entre, d’une part, les perceptions parentales du risque et l’attitude envers laprise de risquespendant le jeu et, d’autre part, l’activité physique et la littératie physique des enfants d’âge préscolaire. Méthodologie : Les données ont été recueillies auprès d’enfants d’âge préscolaire (35 garçons, 17 filles; âge moyen = 3,8 ans, intervalle = 3 à 5 ans) et de parents (n = 52 paires de parents) de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Par régressions linéaires, on a évalué l’association entre, d’un côté, les perceptions du risque et l’attitude enversla prise de risques et, de l’autre côté, l’activité et la littératie physique chez les enfants en fonction de leur âge (analyse transversale; p<.05) . Résultats : Il existeun lien significatif entre les perceptions du risque et l’activité physique des enfantsd’âge préscolaire (r=.24, p=.05), qui permettait de prédire 11,6 % de la variance de l’activité physique. Les résultats ont révélé une relation positive significative entre l’attitude envers les risques dans le jeu et la littératie physique (r=.21, p=.05), ce qui expliquait 14,7 % de la variance au niveau de la littératie physique. Conclusion : Ces données corroborent les études de plus en plus nombreuses sur la valeur de la prise de risques dans le jeu pour le développement des enfants et l’influence des parents sur la tendance des enfants à prendre des risques. Keywords: children, fundamental movement skills, outdoor, play, risk Mots clés : enfants, habiletés motrices fondamentales, plein air, jeu, risque 10 Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 23 (2), 2020 Introduction The establishment of healthy physical activity (PA) behaviours in early childhood is critical for optimal growth and development (Carson et al. , 2017a; Timmonset al. , 2012) . Play, particularly unstructured, self-directed, and/or free play, dominates early childhood and affords children numerous physical, cognitive, and social health benefits (Brussoni, Olsen, Pike, & Sleet, 2012; Pellegrini, 2009) . Play is so essential for childhood development that it is recognized in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Office of the UN, 1989) and is promoted internationally by organizations such as the International Play Association ([http://ipaworld.org/](http://ipaworld.org/)). Outdoor play has particular health benefits for children (Gray et al. , 2015) and has been endorsed through a position statement geared toward key influencers of children (e.g. , parents, educators, caregivers, media, government)(Tremblay et al. , 2015) . The position statement on active outdoor play was developed based upon accu

FAQs

What is the study’s main purpose?

To determine whether parental perceptions of risk and attitudes toward risk-taking during play are associated with preschoolers’ physical activity and physical literacy.

How were the data collected and analyzed?

Preschoolers and their parents provided data, and linear regressions tested associations between risk perceptions/attitudes and children’s physical activity and physical literacy while controlling for children’s age (cross-sectional, p<0.05).

What key relationships were found in the results?

Parental risk perceptions were significantly associated with preschoolers’ physical activity (r=0.24, p=0.05) and predicted 11.6% of its variance. Attitudes toward risky play showed a significant positive relationship with physical literacy (r=0.21, p=0.05), explaining 14.7% of its variance.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Danger Angel