Impact of a multi-component implementation strategy to increase outdoor free play opportunities in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services: the get outside get active (GOGA) randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Increased outdoor free play is associated with health and developmental benefits for preschool-aged children. It is therefore recommended that early childhood education and care (ECEC) services provide increased time for outdoor free play. This study seeks to understand the impact of a multi-component implementation strategy (Get Outside Get Active) on ECEC service provision of opportunities for outdoor free play.

Methods

This was a parallel-group randomised controlled trial involving 84 ECEC services located in one region of New South Wales, Australia. Forty-one services were randomised to a 6-month multi-component implementation strategy or to a usual care group (n = 43). To increase total scheduled outdoor free play time, services were supported to modify their

SUBMITTER: Yoong SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12046965 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature