Playgrounds with a Purpose: Identifying Equipment for Fundamental Movement Skill Development in Children

Introduction: This study aimed to identify playground equipment that best supports the development of fundamental movement skills (FMS) in children and assess the availability of such equipment across public parks. Playgrounds can increase physical activity levels in children, and they are appropriate settings for FMS development. Despite this, Australian children are considered to have low motor skill competency. In selecting a park to attend, caregivers have previously identified lighting, access to open fields, access to drinking fountains, and toilets as preferred features. This research provides an innovative review of playground infrastructure in Townsville, Queensland, to inform both caregivers and urban planners. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted across 192 parks with playgrounds in Townsville. A custom review tool that included playground equipment categories (cableways, swings, slides, climbers, rockers, and balance) and amenities (e.g. lighting, open field, drinking fountains, toilets) based on the Quality of Public Open Space Tool (POST) was developed by the research team. Data was collected between July-December 2024 using REDCap and analysed using non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Chi-square) in SPSS v30. Results: Only four parks featured all six key equipment types (cableways, swings, slides, climbers, rockers, and balance) essential for comprehensive motor skill development. Climbers (89.6%), swings (86.5%), and slides (81.3%) were the most common equipment types. Ten parks included all four features preferred by caregivers (lighting, open fields, drinking fountains, toilets), but only two parks had both the full equipment set and all four caregiver-favoured features. Conclusions: Playgrounds in Townsville offer varied opportunities for FMS development, but few provide comprehensive support for all FMS. These findings highlight the need for targeted playground design to support physical literacy in children. The study offers practical insights for local councils and caregivers in selecting or designing playgrounds that foster motor competence.

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ASPA 2025: 5th Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity Conference

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