PLAY for All has the Potential to Benefit All

Dr. Allison Tsuchida, Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science (KRS), is the Director of the Physical Literacy and Activities for Youth (PLAY) for All motor clinic. The PLAY for All clinic is an inclusive community-based afterschool program that aims to increase physical activity opportunities for all children via standards-based activities. KRS undergraduate students enrolled in KRS 443 Disability and Diversity and graduate students learn to work with children of varying motor abilities, implement inclusive activities, and collaborate with peers and faculty. The PLAY for All clinic is a host to various research projects for students and faculty.

“P.L.A.Y. for All Pilot: Effects of a Community-Based, Inclusive After-School Program on Physical Activity and Motor-Skill Outcomes” highlights this importance of increasing physical activity opportunities for all children and youth because quality programming can increase motor skill ability, parent and child physical activity engagement, and parent support of physical activity. These benefits can translate to improved overall health and long-term physical activity engagement. More work has yet to be completed but there have been interesting findings in the way parents perceive their child’s motor ability and their own motor ability, goals that parents have for their child’s participation in physical activity, and positive preliminary findings in regard to parent-reported child quality of life scores from clinic participation. Stay tuned for more!