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Dog walkers more likely to engage in independent outdoor activities Children who walk their pet dog also are more likely to engage in general independent outdoor activities without adult supervision, according to ACER research released last week. The study sought to discover whether walking a pet dog increases children’s physical activity and their ability to move through their neighbourhood without adult supervision, also known as independent mobility. The research involved an analysis of survey data and pictures drawn by more than 800 Victorian primary school children aged between 8 and 12 years. It found that 76 per cent of children who walk their pet dog report being allowed to go outside to play with friends without adult supervision, compared to only 59 per cent of children who do not own a dog. The study did not measure the activities of children who had a pet dog and did not walk it. Results showed that children who walk their pet dog were more likely, than children who do not have a pet dog, to have independently done the following activities five or more times in the previous week: play in the street (28 per cent compared to 17 per cent); play in the back yard (48 per cent compared to 37 per cent); play in the front yard (28 per cent compared to 17 per cent); go to the local park (14 per cent compared to 8 percent); go to a friend’s house (12 per cent compared to 6 per cent). ACER Research Fellow Catherine Underwood said the study found that children who walked their pet dog demonstrated greater awareness of their neighbourhood. “They were more likely to know their way around their local area and included greater detail in their drawings of their neighbourhood than children who did not own a dog,” said Underwood. “It is important that children have a well balanced lifestyle that combines study and outdoor physical activity. A pet dog will encourage such positive behaviour.” Analysis was based on an aspect of data looking at children’s independent mobility and active transport collected in 2010 using VicHealth funded data. Data was collected from 1,427 primary school aged children from Prep to year 6 aged 4 to 12 years across 19 Primary Schools in Victoria. Catherine Underwood presented the research at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity in Melbourne from 15 to 18 June. « Back to eNews
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Children who walk their pet dog also are more likely to engage in general independent outdoor activities without adult supervision, according to ACER research released last week.

The study sought to discover whether walking a pet dog increases children’s physical activity and their ability to move through their neighbourhood without adult supervision, also known as independent mobility.

The research involved an analysis of survey data and pictures drawn by more than 800 Victorian primary school children aged between 8 and 12 years. It found that 76 per cent of children who walk their pet dog report being allowed to go outside to play with friends without adult supervision, compared to only 59 per cent of children who do not own a dog.

The study did not measure the activities of children who had a pet dog and did not walk it.

Results showed that children who walk their pet dog were more likely, than children who do not have a pet dog, to have independently done the following activities five or more times in the previous week:

play in the street (28 per cent compared to 17 per cent);
play in the back yard (48 per cent compared to 37 per cent);
play in the front yard (28 per cent compared to 17 per cent);
go to the local park (14 per cent compared to 8 percent);
go to a friend’s house (12 per cent compared to 6 per cent).

ACER Research Fellow Catherine Underwood said the study found that children who walked their pet dog demonstrated greater awareness of their neighbourhood.

“They were more likely to know their way around their local area and included greater detail in their drawings of their neighbourhood than children who did not own a dog,” said Underwood.

“It is important that children have a well balanced lifestyle that combines study and outdoor physical activity. A pet dog will encourage such positive behaviour.”

Analysis was based on an aspect of data looking at children’s independent mobility and active transport collected in 2010 using VicHealth funded data. Data was collected from 1,427 primary school aged children from Prep to year 6 aged 4 to 12 years across 19 Primary Schools in Victoria.

Catherine Underwood presented the research at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity in Melbourne from 15 to 18 June.

Dog walkers more likely to engage in independent outdoor activities