ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the overall effectiveness of physical activity intervention for children zero to five years and five to ten years across community and home settings. It provides the reader with insights into what works for who, why, and within which circumstances. Over the last century, society’s definition of the “family” has undergone a rapid transition and has come to include single parents, biracial couples, blended families, and unrelated individuals living cooperatively amongst others. The extant literature would suggest that parents remain one of the strongest determinants of children’s physical activity patterns, serving as both role models and gate-keepers to activities. Play is an essential component during the early years’ development phase and has been used consistently within community-based physical activity interventions to yield improvements in physical activity behaviours. A recent systematic review provided a summary of family-based interventions that have aimed to increase physical activity in children aged five to twelve years.
