The Impact of COVID-19-Related Public Health Restrictions on Childhood Physical Activity: Insight into Canadian Children and Parents’ Perceptions and Experiences

Abstract

Public health restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively impacted childhood physical activity. Our objective was to gather children and parent’s perceptions and experiences related to physical activity and public health restrictions. 16 children and 11 parents took part in this study. The children completed a seven-day physical activity journal and both the children and parents participated in individual interviews. We learned that the children’s physical activity most often takes the form of play-based coactivity. Public health restrictions, including the need for physical separation and distancing, school closures, and organized sport cancellations generally had a negative effect on children’s physical activity. The effects were primarily indirect, mediated by their negative impact on coactivity. As public health restrictions linger and other barriers to participating in physical activity emerge, educators and parents should strive to create opportunities for safe and meaningful play-based coactivity.