A scoping review of the characteristics and effects of active play in childhood
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v81.118640Keywords:
Active play, child development , childhood, physical activity, scoping reviewAbstract
Introduction: Active play is recognized as a key strategy for promoting physical activity and holistic development during childhood. However, the available evidence shows substantial heterogeneity in its characteristics, implementation contexts, and reported effects, which hinders its comprehensive understanding and effective application.
Objective: To synthesize the available evidence on the main characteristics, outcomes evaluated, and findings reported in studies on active play in children within the age range of four to eight years.
Methodology: The review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A systematic search was conducted in May 2025 across PubMed, ERIC, Cochrane, and SciELO databases.
Results: Fourteen studies were included, comprising a total of one thousand four hundred sixty-one participants, primarily conducted in school and outdoor settings. The interventions showed high variability in duration, frequency, and type of play. Most studies assessed motor outcomes, reporting consistent improvements in motor skills and physical activity levels. Effects on social and cognitive dimensions were more heterogeneous and depended on study design and the assessment instruments used.
Discussion: The findings were consistent with previous research highlighting the positive impact of active play on motor development in childhood. However, less consistency was observed in cognitive and social outcomes, which may be attributed to methodological differences and the lack of standardized assessment tools.
Conclusion: Active play is a valuable strategy to promote child development, especially in the motor domain; however, methodological and conceptual gaps persist that require more rigorous, comparable studies with standardized instruments to strengthen the available evidence.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Solange Espinoza Inostroza, Tamara Hernández Carrrasco, Karen Kracht Suazo, María Alejandra Valencia Pacheco, Alejandra Robles Campos, Marcela Núñez-Solís, Viviana Vallejos Garcías, Ana Karina Segura, Javier Albornoz Guerrero, Rafael Zapata Lamana
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