Physical activity for children and young people

Glossary

Access/accessibility

The ability to use a facility because, for instance, it is free or affordable, it does not require people to travel a long distance to use it and the environment and activities are suitable for those with disabilities. Examples of facilities include playgrounds, parks or open spaces and leisure, youth or community centres.

Active play

The Children's Play Council (now Play England) defines play as: ' …freely chosen, personally directed, intrinsically motivated behaviour that actively engages the child...' (National Playing Fields Association 2000). Active play involves physical activity.

Displacement

Displacement occurs when children and young people get involved in one type of physical activity at the expense of another, resulting in their overall physical activity levels remaining the same.

Intrinsic motivation

Intrinsic motivation is an internal factor, such as an interest in learning a skill or the desire for further personal development. It compares with extrinsic motivation, which is inspired by external factors such as being given a monetary incentive.

Movement skills

Movement skills use skeletal muscles to achieve a physical goal. They are learnt and refined throughout life. Gross movement skills include: rolling over, sitting up, crawling, walking, running, jumping, hopping and skipping. Fine movement skills include the ability to manipulate small objects and transfer them from hand to hand, and tasks that involve hand-eye coordination.

School travel plan

A written document detailing a package of measures to improve safety and reduce car use, backed by a partnership involving the school, education and local authority transport officers, the police and the health authority. It is based on consultation with teachers, parents, pupils and governors and other local people. It must include: information about the school, a description and analysis of journeys made and the associated problems, a survey of pupils' current and preferred mode of travel, consultation findings, clearly defined targets and objectives, details of proposed measures and a timetable for implementation, clearly defined responsibilities and proposals for monitoring and review.

Sedentary lifestyle

The Health Survey for England (2005) defines children as sedentary if they either do no physical activity at all or less than 30 minutes a day of moderate intensity activity.

Sport

Sport means all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels.