An after-school program to promote physical activity, cognitive development, and academic achievement in children in Skoolzout Centres.

INTERVENTION: Over the past 6 years, our research team has developed an evidence‐based after‐school program called Wollongong Sport. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Wollongong SPORT when implemented in Big Fat Smile after‐school centres. We hypothesise that, over a 18 week period, children in centres randomised to implement Wollongong SPORT will significantly increase their after‐school physical activity, academic performance and cognitive development compared with children in the control group. Wollongong SPORT is a physical activity and academic enrichment program for 5‐10 year‐old children. It will be implemented three afternoons per week in the intervention centres. The Program has two components: one is optional tutoring, and two is the physical activity sessions (90min). BFS Centre staff and pre‐ service UOW education students will be trained to implement the Program over a six‐month period. The UOW students will be recruited through a compulsory 4th year undergraduate subject (EDSE401) in which they are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of service in a local community‐based organisation. The aim of the physical activity sessions is to engage children for at least 50% of the time in Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA), which is consistent with international policy and has been achieved in our pilot studies. Children will participate in team sports such as soccer and basketball, and activity sessions based on popular TV shows such as The Amazing Race and Survivor. All activities have been designed to be fun whilst at the same time challenging (both tactically and physiologically). There is an optional tutoring element available if the participant child wishes to take part in tutoring before the afternoon's sports session. The optional tutoring session will run for a maximum of 30 minutes. The sports program will run for 90 minutes. Giving a total program time of 2 hours, if the child takes part in the optional tutoring. Otherwise the participant will take part in up to 90 minutes of sports games. Currently there are two intervention centres, requiring 6 students per centre to run the program. Each intervention centre will receive equipment up to the value of $500 to assist with running the program. Physical activity and cognitive development data will be collected at baseline and 6‐month follow‐up by trained research assistants blinded to group allocation. Physical activity will be measured during centre hours using the Actigraph accelerometer (worn on child’s hip using an elastic belt). Cognitive development will be measured using the Figural Intersections Task (a measure of working memory/attentional capacity). All instruments are valid and reliable among primary school‐aged children. CONDITION: Physical Inactivity PRIMARY OUTCOME: Physical activity data will be collected at baseline and 18 week follow‐up by trained research assistants blinded to group allocation. Physical activity will be measured during centre hours using the Actigraph accelerometer (worn on child’s hip using an elastic belt). This data will be analysed to assess the effectiveness of the intervention of the sports program that has been implemented into the after school care centres. All instruments are valid and reliable among primary school‐aged children. ; ; SECONDARY OUTCOME: Cognitive development will be measured using three tasks, presented as games. All instruments are valid and reliable among primary school‐aged children. ; The tasks (positioned as 'games') we will be administering measure executive functions (i.e., working memory, inhibition, shifting) and non‐verbal performance intelligence/reasoning. ; Details of the Executive Functioning tests are below: ; ; Together, these 4 tasks take approximately 20 minutes to complete (in some cases shorter, due to stop rules). These measures will be administered at both baseline and follow‐up. ; The tasks (positioned as 'games') we will be administering measure executive functions (i.e., working memory, inhibition, shifting) and non‐verbal performance intelligence/reasoning. The tasks are as follows: ; ‐Matrix Reasoning Subtest of the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children (non‐verbal performance intelligence) ‐ children are presented with an array of designs that form a pattern. Children are required to select the next design in the pattern from a range of options presented at the bottom of the page. ; ‐Mr. Ant (visual‐spatial working memory) ‐ children see a cartoon ant with 1 to 8 coloured stickers on his person. Children are required to remember the placement of these stickers and, after a delay, indicate these spatial locations. ; ‐Go/No‐Go (inhibition) ‐ children see a series of fish and sharks quickly swim across the screen. Children are required to 'catch' the fish (by tapping the screen) and 'avoid' the sharks (withhold tapping the screen). Because of the speeded nature of the task, and the majority of trials being go trials (fish), the prepotent tendency to respond needs to be overcome for no‐go trails (sharks). ; ‐Dimensional Change Card Sorting Task (shifting) ‐ children are required to sort cards by one dimension (e.g., colour) before switching to a new sorting dimension (e.g., shape). If completed successfully, children are required to flexibly switch between colour and shape sorting rules on the basis of the presence/absence of a border around the stimulus. ; ; We will collect demographic data on the BFS staff and UOW students who delivered the program and on the facilities at each centre. ; We will collect demographic data on the participants. Including Parent/Guardian employment status, marital status. ; ; INCLUSION CRITERIA: Participants must be enrolled and attend the Intervention Centre. This is a Big Fat Smile After School Care Centre. Participants must attend two out of three specific days across the week. They must also be aged between 5 and 10 years old.