Observation challenge: Identify the factors

Watch the video of Matt again and complete the following task to apply what you have learned about factors that influence physical activity for young children.

Observation challenge: Identify the factors

As you watch the video again of a day in the life of 4 year old Matt from Australia, think about the factors that are helping or stopping Matt from being physically active. Remember to think about the ecological model and the different factors across the domains of Individual, Interpersonal, Environmental, Policy and Global.

Instructions:

In the comments section write your response to each of the following tasks. Don’t forget to number your responses and comment on the responses of other learners to generate discussion with those who may have similar or different opinions to you:

1. Identify a time during the day where Matt is physically active and describe a factor influencing this (from the ecological model)
2. Identify a time during the day where Matt is not very physically active and describe a factor influencing this (from the ecological model)
3. Now that you have identified factors influencing Matt’s physical activity, what changes do you think can be made to increase his physical activity in this situation?

Example responses:

1. Matt is active at the end of his school day when he walks home with his mother. Environmental factors influence this activity because the weather was suitable for walking, and because he lives a reasonable walking distance from home. Interpersonal factors also influence this activity such as his mother’s schedule and availability to walk with him at that time.
2. Matt is not very active when he is sitting in the morning watching TV. He is watching TV because his mother is busy making breakfast. This is both an interpersonal and environmental factor because he has access to the television which is turned on in the morning and his mother is enabling him to watch television while she prepares food in the kitchen.
3. An opportunity for greater physical activity for Matt in the morning is to put music on to dance to or a television program that encourages children to move around.