Intensity and seasonality of physical activity of children during school recess

This study aimed to quantify the intensity of physical activity (PA) of children during school recess (SR), compare PA between genders and seasonal influences. The sample consisted of 30 girls (11.2 ± 1.3 years) and 20 boys (11.3 ± 0.8 years). Heart rate was monitored during three consecutive SR in the winter (WIN) and spring (SPR) with intensity of activity being classified as low, moderate and vigorous. Descriptive statistics for general data, T test for independent samples evaluated gender differences, paired T test for seasonality. Significant differences were found between the temperatures in WIN and SPR. The girls showed a significant reduction in PA from WIN to SPR, which was not observed among boys. The SR represented a small contribution to the daily recommendations of PA.