Initiative Description: Objective monitoring at each after-school program site was performed on six occasions during the course of the academic year. Sessions were coded as follows: 1) unsupervised free play indoors, 2) supervised free play indoors, 3) organized activity indoors, 4) unsupervised free play outdoors, 5) supervised free play outdoors, 6) organized activity outdoors, 7) snack time, or 8) academic time.

Study Results: MVPA levels were significantly higher during free-play activity sessions than
during organized or structured activity session. The average accumulation of MVPA was 20.3 min. Boys exhibited higher levels of MPA, VPA, and MVPA, and lower levels of SED and LPA, than girls.

Reference: Trost, S. G., Rosenkranz, R. R., & Dzewaltowski, D. (2008). Physical activity levels among children attending after-school programs. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 40(4), 622–629. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e318161eaa5

Level of Evidence: Very Good