The influence of parental active lifestyles and physical active levels in children : a study in the second and fifth years of primary education

Abstract

Parents have the power to provide or restrict a healthy environment for their children as these tend to imitate what their parents do (Muscat Inglott, 2009). The study aims at investigating the physical active lifestyles of parents of children within the two different primary levels with the active lifestyles of their children. Another aim is to gain data regarding the 'in school' physical activity within the second year of schooling during which students are not examined and the fifth years of primary education; a year after the introduction of graded examinations. The closer the pupils are to the periods of assessment and examination, the lesser the physical active patterns become (Abela, 2001). A comparison of data will shed light on the hypothetic issue that physical activity is the first domain to be negatively affected when time for academic learning becomes challenged. Results indicate that the physical active levels of parents do not influence those of their children. However, children who are encouraged by their parents are more likely to be physically active. Moreover, it is proved that children in the fifth year of schooling are exposed to less 'in school' physical activity in order to cover the vast academic syllabus, some Year 5 teachers fail to deliver Physical Education lessons. Also, in some schools, Physical Education is allotted more time on the time table within the second year of Primary Education.