Active travel and play
This page lists research relating to the role of play and active mobility in the health and development of children.
See the new Active play and travel information sheet for a review of research and guidance on benefits of the independent active play and active mobility in childhood.
Latest papers
NEW - Do attributes in the physical environment influence children's physical activity? A review of the literature
Kirsten Krahnstoever Davison et al
International Journal of Behvaioural Nutrition and Physical Activity 3;19 2006
NEW - Independent mobility in relation to weekday and weekend physical activity in children aged 10-11 years: The PEACH Project
AS Page
International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity 6;2 (2009)
NEW - Gender differences in children's pathways to independent mobility
B Borwn et al
Children's Geographies 6;4 (2008) 285-401
Recommended reading
Children's Active free play in local neighborhoods
J. Veitch et al
Health Education Research, November 2007, Volume 23, Number 5, pages 870-879
Perceptions about the local neighborhood and walking and cycling among children
Anna Timpeiro et al
Preventative Medicine, January 2004, Volume 38, Issue 1, pages 39-47
Neighborhood and developmental differences in children's perceptions of opportunities for play and physical activity
N.L. Holt et al
Health & Place, March 2008, Volume 14, Issue 1, pages 2-14
Other key papers
The therapeutic value of children's everyday travel
Roger L. Mackett
Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, February-March 2005, Volume 39, Issues 2-3, Pages 205-219
The importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds
Kenneth R Ginsburg et al
Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, January 2007, Volume 119, Number 1, pages 182-191
Playing it safe: the influence of neighbourhood safety on children's physcial activity
Alison Carver et al
Health and Place, June 2007, Voume 14, Issue 2, pages 217-227
Neighborhood Disorder, Perceived Safety, and Readiness to Encourage Use of Local Playgrounds
Rebecca Miles, PhD
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, April 2008, Volume 34, Issue 4, pages 275-81
Features of public open spaces and physical activity among children
Anne Timperio et al
Preventive Medicine, November 2008, Volume 47, Issue 5, pages 514-518
The extent of children's independent mobility and the number of actualized affordances as criteria for child-friendly environments
Marketta Kytta
Journal of Environmental Psychology, June 2004, Volume 24, Issue 2, pages 179-198
A place to play: Socioeconomic and spatial factors in children's physical activity
Jenny Ziviani
Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, March 2008, Volume 55, Issue 1, pages 2-11