School-based Active Play Intervention to Facilitate Movement Behaviours and Fundamental Movement Skills in Primary School Children of Bangladesh

NCT07411456 | Not Yet Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: HKBURUHINARCT
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 354
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background In Bangladesh, many children do not get enough opportunities for active play because safe play spaces are limited, school culture often prioritises academic success over physical activity, and many families have safety concerns about outdoor play. These factors reduce the time children spend being active, despite the fact that active play is known to be crucial for children's healthy growth and development. Active play helps children move more, stay physically fit, and develop important social and emotional skills such as teamwork, confidence, and enjoyment. It also supports motor skill development, which includes basic skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. The lack of active play in everyday life suggests a strong need for school based programs that can safely introduce regular, structured, and enjoyable physical activity opportunities for children. Objective The main objective of this study is to find out whether a school based active play program can help children increase their daily physical activity, reduce the amount of time they spend sitting, and improve their sleep patterns. The study also aims to examine whether the program improves children's fundamental movement skills, such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Methods This study will use a randomised controlled trial design. Randomisation will be at the school level to ensure fairness and reduce bias. This study will test a 12-week school-based AP programme designed to help primary school children in Bangladesh be more active, sit less, sleep better, and improve their basic movement skills. The study will involve eight primary schools, with each school acting as one cluster. Four schools will receive the AP programme and the remaining four will continue their usual routine. About 43 children from each school will join, giving a total sample of around 343 students. Eligibility Criteria Children can take part if they are students at a primary school, healthy, staying in their school for at least six months, able to understand basic Bengali or English, and are Bangladeshi citizens. Children will not be included if they are outside the age range, not attending school, or regularly involved in organised sports, dance, or athletic training. These rules help ensure that the programme is safe and that the comparison between the AP group and the control group is fair. Intervention Description The AP programme will run twice a week for 60 minutes. Each session will include 30 minutes of free play where children choose their own games and 30 minutes of researcher-led guided play. Activities will help children practise running, jumping, throwing, catching, and other fundamental skills. Weekly themes will keep the sessions enjoyable. Students will earn activity points for being active during sessions, reducing screen time at home, and following healthy sleep routines. Each week, the top three "Active Champions'' from every school will receive a small reward. Orientation Sessions Before the programme begins, orientation sessions will be held for parents, teachers, and children. Parents will learn how to support safe play at home, especially when outdoor play is limited due to dengue or safety concerns. They will also receive tips on reducing screen time and encouraging good sleep habits. Teachers will be trained to integrate active breaks, organise movement-friendly classrooms, use outdoor areas safely, and give feedback to students. Children will learn why active play is important and how it can help their health, learning, confidence, and friendships. Data Collection Plan Data will be collected at three time points: before the programme (T1), immediately after 12 weeks (T2), and eight weeks later (T3). Researchers will collect questionnaire responses, measure height, weight and use wrist-worn accelerometers to measure physical activity, sitting time, and sleep. Teachers and parents will help children wear the devices correctly and keep usage records. Fundamental motor skills will be assessed using the (Test of Gross Motor Development) TGMD 3 tool. Data Analysis Researchers will check all data for accuracy and compare results between the AP and control groups. The study will examine changes in PA, sedentary behaviour, sleep patterns, and FMS. It will also explore whether age, gender, or family background affects how children respond to the programme. The results will help determine whether the AP programme is practical for Bangladeshi schools and effective in improving children's movement behaviours and FMS. Expected Results It is expected that children who participate in the AP program will show clear improvements in PA levels, movement skills, sitting time, and sleep patterns compared with children in the control group. Schools may also learn simple and low-cost ways to support children's activity within limited time and space, making the program valuable beyond the study itself.

Conditions

Physical Activities; Sedentary Behaviors; Sleep; Fundamental Movement Skills

Keywords

Active Play; Movement Behaviours; Fundamental Movement Skills; Primary School Children

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in children's physical activity

  Children's physical activity will be measured at baseline, at the endline(1 week after the intervention), and at follow-up (3 months after the intervention ended). Physical activity will be measured using parent-reported questionnaires, child-reported Global Physical Activity Questionnaires, and accelerometers to track step count, low-intensity PA, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in minutes per day.

  Baseline (Day1), Endline (13 weeks) and Follow-up (24 weeks)

• Change in Fundamental Movement Skills

  Children's Fundamental Movement Skills will be measured at baseline, Endline (1 week after the intervention), and follow-up (3 months after the intervention ended) using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3. Each skill consists of 6 to 10 components. Score 0 indicates absence, and score 1 denotes the presence of a particular skill component. The raw scores can be combined across skills to create a locomotor or object control score, with a total possible range of 0 to 48 points

  Baseline (Day1), Endline (13 weeks) and Follow-up (24 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change of Sedentary Behaviour

  Baseline (Day1), Endline (13 weeks) and Follow-up (24 weeks)

• Change of Sleep Duration

  Baseline (Day1), Endline (13 weeks) and Follow-up (24 weeks)

• Change of Active Play Duration

  Baseline (Day1), Endline (13 weeks) and Follow-up (24 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Active Play intervention for enhancing movement behaviours and skills among primary school children

EXPERIMENTAL

This arm of the study focuses on implementing an active play intervention within primary schools in Bangladesh. The intervention involves engaging children in a variety of fun and dynamic play activities designed to enhance their fundamental movement skills, such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching. These activities will be integrated into the school day through free and guided play and movement-based challenges, encouraging regular participation.

Behavioral: School based Active Play

This arm will continue their regular school routine.

NO INTERVENTION

This arm of the study will serve as the control group, where participants will continue to their regular school routine and the standard physical education program already in place at their schools. No additional active play activities will be introduced to this group during the study period, allowing for a comparison of movement behaviours and fundamental movement skills between the control and intervention groups.

Interventions

School based Active Play BEHAVIORAL

The intervention will consist of an active play program tailored for primary school children in Bangladesh, distinguishing it from typical physical education curricula. Implemented after school hours, this program will engage students in a variety of enjoyable, free play activities designed to promote moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), allowing children to choose their play. Guided play will focus on enhancing fundamental movement skills (FMS). The curriculum will include diverse activities such as obstacle courses, team sports, creative games, and dance, fostering a fun and inclusive environment that encourages participation from all students, regardless of their skill levels. Training will be provided to teachers and parents to employ child-centered methods that promote encouragement and positive reinforcement. Monitoring and feedback mechanisms will allow for real-time adjustments, while regular assessments will track children's movement behaviors and skills.

Active Play intervention for enhancing movement behaviours and skills among primary school children

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 6 Years - 12 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Primary school children aged 6-12 years
• Must be apparently healthy with no medical conditions limiting participation in physical activity.
• Should not plan to change schools within 6 months to allow consistent follow-up.
• Must understand basic Bengali or English.
• Must be Bangladeshi citizens.

You may not qualify if:

• Children who are currently out of school will be excluded.
• Children under 6 years of age or over 11 years of age will not be included.
• Children who regularly participate in structured sports activities, such as cricket, football, or any other sports clubs, will be excluded.
• Children who are athletes or compete in any organised athletic events will not be included in the study.
• Children who are involved in dance performances or dance-related activities regularly will be excluded.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hong Kong Baptist University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Primary Schools

Noākhāli, Bangladesh

Location

Related Publications (12)

• Ulrich, D. A. (2015). Reliabilität und Validität der deutschsprachigen Adaptation des Test of Gross Motor Development 3 (TGMD 3).

  BACKGROUND

• WHO. (2025, 2025, February 19). STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPS). Retrieved 26.02.2025 from https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/surveillance/systems-tools/steps

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• Lee, W. M., Park, H. S., Kim, S. N., Kim, J. C., & Lee, K. H. (2020). Effects of elementary school neighbourhood environment on children's play activities: a case study of GaeMyong elementary school neighbourhood [Article]. International Journal of Urban Sciences, 24(1), 88-109. https://doi.org/10.1080/12265934.2019.1570862

  BACKGROUND

• Ceciliani, A., & Bortolotti, A. (2013). Outdoor motor play: Analysis, speculations, research paths [Article]. Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal, 3(3), 65-86. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84897012503&partnerID=40&md5=b2121c2bd829a0dbaf0f72506c5c2904

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• Razak, L. A., Yoong, S. L., Wiggers, J., Morgan, P. J., Jones, J., Finch, M., Sutherland, R., Lecathelnais, C., Gillham, K., Clinton-McHarg, T., & Wolfenden, L. (2018). Impact of scheduling multiple outdoor free-play periods in childcare on child moderate-to-vigorous physical activity: A cluster randomised trial [Article]. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 15(1), Article 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-018-0665-5

  BACKGROUND

• Foulkes, J., Knowles, Z., Fairclough, S. J., Stratton, G., O'Dwyer, M., Ridgers, N. D., & Foweather, L. (2017). Effect of a 6-Week Active Play Intervention on Fundamental Movement Skill Competence of Preschool Children. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 124(2), 393-412. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031512516685200

  BACKGROUND

• Johnstone, A., Hughes, A. R., Janssen, X., & Reilly, J. J. (2017). Pragmatic evaluation of the Go2Play Active Play intervention on physical activity and fundamental movement skills in children [Article]. Preventive Medicine Reports, 7, 58-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2017.05.002

  BACKGROUND

• Johnstone, A., Hughes, A., Bonnar, L., Booth, J. N., & Reilly, J. J. (2019). An Active Play Intervention to Improve Physical Activity and Fundamental Movement Skills in Children of Low Socio-Economic Status: Feasibility Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-019-0427-4

  BACKGROUND

• Madison. (2018). The Impact of Exercise Intensity Feedback Using Technology for Children During Active Play: Pilot Study. JMIR Pediatr Parent 2018;1(2):e11327 https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2018/2/e11327

  BACKGROUND

• Harrington, D. M., Davies, M. J., Bodicoat, D. H., Charles, J. M., Chudasama, Y. V., Gorely, T., Khunti, K., Plekhanova, T., Rowlands, A. V., Sherar, L. B., Tudor Edwards, R., Yates, T., & Edwardson, C. L. (2018). Effectiveness of the 'Girls Active' school-based physical activity programme: A cluster randomised controlled trial [Article]. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 15(1), 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-018-0664-6

  BACKGROUND

• Donner, A., & Klar, N. (1996). Statistical considerations in the design and analysis of community intervention trials. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 49(4), 435-439. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/0895-4356(95)00511-0

  BACKGROUND

• Ahmed, K. R., Kolbe-Alexander, T., & Khan, A. (2022). Effectiveness of a school-based intervention on physical activity and screen time among adolescents. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 25(3), 242-248.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity; Sedentary Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Patrick Wing Chung LAU

  Hong Kong Baptist University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Patrick Wing Chung Prof. LAU

CONTACT

85234115634; wclau@hkbu.edu.hk

Ruhina Binta A Ghani

CONTACT

85294736946; 23481048@life.hkbu.edu.hk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 14, 2026
• First Posted: February 13, 2026
• Study Start: May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 15, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 30, 2027
• Last Updated: February 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: March 2026
• Access Criteria: Information will be shared via email upon receiving a valid reason.

Locations

BA (1)