School-based Active Play Intervention to Facilitate Movement Behaviours and Fundamental Movement Skills in Primary School Children of Bangladesh

Plain-language summary

Background In Bangladesh, many children do not get enough opportunities for active play because safe play spaces are limited, school culture often prioritises academic success over physical activity, and many families have safety concerns about outdoor play. These factors reduce the time children spend being active, despite the fact that active play is known to be crucial for children's healthy growth and development. Active play helps children move more, stay physically fit, and develop important social and emotional skills such as teamwork, confidence, and enjoyment. It also supports motor skill development, which includes basic skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. The lack of active play in everyday life suggests a strong need for school based programs that can safely introduce regular, structured, and enjoyable physical activity opportunities for children. Objective The main objective of this study is to find out whether a school based active play program can help children increase their daily physical activity, reduce the amount of time they spend sitting, and improve their sleep patterns. The study also aims to examine whether the program improves children's fundamental movement skills, such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching. Methods This study will use a randomised controlled trial design. Randomisation will be at the school level to ensure fairness and reduce bias. This study will test a 12-week school-based AP programme designed to help primary school children in Bangladesh be more active, sit less, sleep better, and improve their basic movement skills. The study will involve eight primary schools, with each school acting as one cluster. Four schools will receive the AP programme and the remaining four will continue their usual routine. About 43 children from each school will join, giving a total sample of around 343 students. Eligibility Criteria Children can take part if they are students at a primary school, healthy, staying in their school for at least six months, able to understand basic Bengali or English, and are Bangladeshi citizens. Children will not be included if they are outside the age range, not attending school, or regularly involved in organised sports, dance, or athletic training. These rules help ensure that the programme is safe and that the comparison between the AP group and the control group is fair. Intervention Description The AP programme will run twice a week for 60 minutes. Each session will include 30 minutes of free play where children choose their own games and 30 minutes of researcher-led guided play. Activities will help children practise running, jumping, throwing, catching, and other fundamental skills. Weekly themes will keep the sessions enjoyable. Students will earn activity points for being active during sessions, reducing screen time at home, and following healthy sleep routines. Each week, the top three "Active Champions'' from every school will receive a small reward. Orientation Sessions Before the programme begins, orientation sessions will be held for parents, teachers, and children. Parents will learn how to support safe play at home, especially when outdoor play is limited due to dengue or safety concerns. They will also receive tips on reducing screen time and encouraging good sleep habits. Teachers will be trained to integrate active breaks, organise movement-friendly classrooms, use outdoor areas safely, and give feedback to students. Children will learn why active play is important and how it can help their health, learning, confidence, and friendships. Data Collection Plan Data will be collected at three time points: before the programme (T1), immediately after 12 weeks (T2), and eight weeks later (T3). Researchers will collect questionnaire responses, measure height, weight and use wrist-worn accelerometers to measure physical activity, sitting time, and sleep. Teachers and parents will help children wear the devices correctly and keep usage records. Fundamental motor skills will be assessed using the (Test of Gross Motor Development) TGMD 3 tool. Data Analysis Researchers will check all data for accuracy and compare results between the AP and control groups. The study will examine changes in PA, sedentary behaviour, sleep patterns, and FMS. It will also explore whether age, gender, or family background affects how children respond to the programme. The results will help determine whether the AP programme is practical for Bangladeshi schools and effective in improving children's movement behaviours and FMS. Expected Results It is expected that children who participate in the AP program will show clear improvements in PA levels, movement skills, sitting time, and sleep patterns compared with children in the control group. Schools may also learn simple and low-cost ways to support children's activity within limited time and space, making the program valuable beyond the study itself.

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