Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 2/2018

Open Access 01-10-2018 | Research

Physical literacy levels of Canadian children aged 8–12 years: descriptive and normative results from the RBC Learn to Play–CAPL project

Authors: Mark S. Tremblay, Patricia E. Longmuir, Joel D. Barnes, Kevin Belanger, Kristal D. Anderson, Brenda Bruner, Jennifer L. Copeland, Christine Delisle Nyström, Melanie J. Gregg, Nathan Hall, Angela M. Kolen, Kirstin N. Lane, Barbi Law, Dany J. MacDonald, Luc J. Martin, Travis J. Saunders, Dwayne Sheehan, Michelle R. Stone, Sarah J. Woodruff

Published in: BMC Public Health | Special Issue 2/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The current physical literacy level of Canadian children is unknown. The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Learn to Play – Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (CAPL) project, which is anchored in the Canadian consensus statement definition of physical literacy, aimed to help establish the current physical literacy level of Canadian children.

Methods

The CAPL was used to assess the physical literacy (and component domains: Daily Behaviour, Physical Competence, Knowledge and Understanding, and Motivation and Confidence) of Canadian children aged 8–12 years. Data were collected from 11 sites across Canada, yielding a sample of 10,034 participants (5030 girls). Descriptive statistics by age and gender were calculated and percentile distributions of physical literacy scores, including each domain and individual measure, were derived.

Results

The mean age of participants was 10.1 ± 1.2 years. Total physical literacy scores (out of 100) were on average 63.1 ± 13.0 for boys and 62.2 ± 11.3 for girls. For boys and girls respectively, domain scores were 19.9 ± 4.7 and 19.3 ± 4.1 (out of 32) for Physical Competence; 18.6 ± 7.9 and 18.5 ± 7.4 (out of 32) for Daily Behaviour; 12.7 ± 2.8 and 12.2 ± 2.6 (out of 18) for Motivation and Confidence; and 11.8 ± 2.8 and 12.2 ± 2.6 (out of 18) for Knowledge and Understanding. Physical Competence measures were on average 28.1 ± 8.4 cm (sit-and-reach flexibility), 33.5 ± 9.4 kg (grip strength, right + left), 23.4 ± 14.1 laps (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run [PACER] shuttle run), 61.8 ± 43.8 s (isometric plank), 19.0 ± 3.8 kg/m2 (body mass index), 67.3 ± 10.8 cm (waist circumference), and 20.6 ± 3.9 out of 28 points for the Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA), with scores for boys higher than girls and older children higher than younger children for grip strength, PACER, plank, and CAMSA score. Girls and younger children had better scores on the sit-and-reach flexibility than boys and older children. Daily pedometer step counts were higher in boys than girls (12,355 ± 4252 vs. 10,779 ± 3624), and decreased with age.

Conclusions

These results provide the largest and most comprehensive assessment of physical literacy of Canadian children to date, providing a “state of the nation” baseline, and can be used to monitor changes and inform intervention strategies going forward.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
2.
Tremblay MS, Lloyd M. Physical literacy measurement – the missing piece. PHE Journal. 2010;Spring:26–30.
3.
Delaney B, Donnelly P, News J. Improving physical literacy. Belfast: Sport Northern Ireland; 2008.
4.
Schools and Physical Activity Task and Finish Group. Physical literacy – an all-Wales approach to increasing levels of physical activity for children and young people. Cardiff: Government of Wales; 2013.
5.
Poitras VJ, Gray CE, Borghese MM, Carson V, Chaput JP, Janssen I, et al. Systematic review of the relationships between objectively measured physical activity and health indicators in school-aged children and youth. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2016;41(6 Suppl 3):S197–239.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Castelli DM, Barcelona JM, Bryant L. Contextualizing physical literacy in the school environment: the challenges. J Sport Health Sci. 2015;4(2):156–63.CrossRef
7.
Edwards LC, Bryant AS, Keegan RJ, Morgan K, Jones AM. Definitions, foundations and associations of physical literacy: a systematic review. Sports Med. 2017;47(1):113–26.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Edwards LC, Bryant AS, Keegan RJ, Morgan K, Cooper SM, Jones AM. ‘Measuring’ physical literacy and related constructs: a systematic review of empirical findings. Sports Med. 2018;48(3):659–82.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Longmuir P. Understanding the physical literacy journey of children: the Canadian assessment of physical literacy. Bulletin of the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education ICSSPE. 2013;65:1–6.
10.
Longmuir PE, Boyer C, Lloyd M, Yang Y, Boiarskaia E, Zhu W, et al. The Canadian assessment of physical literacy: methods for children in grades 4 to 6 (8 to 12 years). BMC Public Health. 2015;15:767.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
11.
Francis CE, Longmuir PE, Boyer C, Andersen LB, Barnes JD, Boiarskaia E, et al. The Canadian assessment of physical literacy: development of a model of children’s capacity for a healthy, active lifestyle through a Delphi process. J Phys Act Health. 2016;13(2):214–22.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Lloyd M, Colley RC, Tremblay MS. Advancing the debate on ‘fitness testing’ for children: perhaps we’re riding the wrong animal. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2010;22(2):176–82.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Morrow JR, Fulton JE, Brener ND, Kohl HW. Prevalence and correlates of physical fitness testing in U.S. schools – 2000. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2008;79(2):141–8.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Rowland T. The horse is dead; let’s dismount. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 1995;7:117–20.CrossRef
15.
Cale L, Harris J, Chen MH, Corbin C, Fox K, Morrow JR, Plowman SA. More than 10 years after “the horse is dead...”: surely it must be time to “dismount”?! Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2007;19(2):115–31.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Tremblay MS, Shields M, Laviolette M, Craig CL, Janssen I, Connor GS. Fitness of Canadian children and youth: results from the 2007-2009 Canadian health measures survey. Health Rep. 2010;21(1):7–20.PubMed
17.
Ortega FB, Ruiz JR, Castillo MJ, Sjostrom M. Physical fitness in childhood and adolescence: a powerful marker of health. Int J Obes. 2008;32(1):1–11.CrossRef
18.
19.
Brener ND, Kann L, Shanklin S, Kinchen S, Eaton DK, Hawkins J, et al. Methodology of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System – 2013. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2013;62(RR-1):1–20.PubMed
20.
Boyer C, Tremblay MS, Saunders TJ, McFarlane A, Borghese M, Lloyd M, et al. Feasibility, validity and reliability of the plank isometric hold as a field-based assessment of torso muscular endurance for children 8-12 years of age. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2013;25(3):407–22.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Scott SN, Thompson DL, Coe DP. The ability of the PACER to elicit peak exercise response in youth [corrected]. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2013;45(6):1139–43.CrossRefPubMed
22.
Carrel AL, Bowser J, White D, Moberg DP, Weaver B, Hisgen J, et al. Standardized childhood fitness percentiles derived from school-based testing. J Pediatr. 2012;161(1):120–4.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
23.
Lander N, Morgan PJ, Salmon J, Logan SW, Barnett LM. The reliability and validity of an authentic motor skill assessment tool for early adolescent girls in an Australian school setting. J Sci Med Sport. 2017;20(6):590–4.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Longmuir PE, Boyer C, Lloyd M, Borghese MM, Knight E, Saunders TJ, et al. Canadian agility and movement skill assessment (CAMSA): validity, objectivity, and reliability evidence for children 8-12 years of age. J Sport Health Sci. 2017;6(2):231–40.CrossRefPubMed
25.
26.
27.
Tremblay MS, Warburton DE, Janssen I, Paterson DH, Latimer AE, Rhodes RE, et al. New Canadian physical activity guidelines. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011;36(1):36–46.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Tremblay MS, Leblanc AG, Janssen I, Kho ME, Hicks A, Murumets K, et al. Canadian sedentary behaviour guidelines for children and youth. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2011;36(1):59–64.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Garcia AW, Broda MA, Frenn M, Coviak C, Pender NJ, Ronis DL. Gender and developmental differences in exercise beliefs among youth and prediction of their exercise behavior. J Sch Health. 1995;65(6):213–9.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Hay JA. Adequacy in and predilection for physical activity in children. Clin J Sport Med. 1992;2(3):192–201.CrossRef
31.
Rigby RA, Stasinopoulos DM. Generalized additive models for location, scale and shape, (with discussion). Appl Statist. 2005;54(3):507–54.
32.
Cohen J. Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. 2nd ed. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1988.
33.
34.
Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group. Canadian assessment of physical literacy: manual for test administration. Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group; Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. 2013. https://​www.​capl-ecsfp.​ca/​capl-manual/​. Accessed 8 May 2018.
35.
Tomkinson GR, Lang JJ, Tremblay MS, Dale M, LeBlanc AG, Belanger K, et al. International normative 20 m shuttle run values from 1 142 026 children and youth representing 50 countries. Br J Sports Med. 2017;51(21):1545–54.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Lang JJ, Chaput J-P, Longmuir PE, Barnes JD, Belanger K, Tomkinson GR, et al. Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with physical literacy in a large sample of Canadian children aged 8 to 12 years. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(Suppl 2) https://​doi.​org/​10.​1186/​s12889-018-5896-5.
37.
Lima RA, Pfeiffer K, Larsen LR, Bugge A, Moller NC, Anderson LB, et al. Physical activity and motor competence present a positive reciprocal longitudinal relationship across childhood and early adolescence. J Phys Act Health. 2017;14(6):440–7.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Fryar CD, Gu Q, Ogden CL, Flegal KM. Anthropometric reference data for children and adults: United States, 2011–2014. Vital Health Stat 3. 2016;3(39):1–46.
39.
Colley RC, Carson V, Garriguet D, Janssen I, Roberts KC, Tremblay MS. Physical activity of Canadian children and youth, 2007 to 2015. Health Rep. 2017;28(10):8–16.PubMed
40.
Colley RC, Janssen I, Tremblay MS. Daily step target to measure adherence to physical activity guidelines in children. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2012;44(5):977–82.CrossRefPubMed
41.
ParticipACTION. Canadian kids need active bodies to build their best brains. The 2018 ParticipACTION report card on physical activity for children and youth. Toronto, ON: ParicipACTION. p. 2018.
42.
Colley RC, Garriguet D, Janssen I, Craig CL, Clarke J, Tremblay MS. Physical activity of Canadian children and youth: accelerometer results from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian health measures survey. Health Rep. 2011;22(1):15–23.PubMed
43.
Edelson LR, Mathias KC, Fulgoni VL, Karagounis LG. Screen-based sedentary behavior and associations with functional strength in 6-15 year-old children in the United States. BMC Public Health. 2016;16:116.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
44.
Roberts KC, Yao X, Carson V, Chaput JP, Janssen I, Tremblay MS. Meeting the Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines for children and youth. Health Rep. 2017;28(10):3–7.PubMed
45.
Belanger K, Barnes JD, Longmuir PE, Anderson KD, Bruner B, Copeland JL, et al. The relationship between physical literacy scores and adherence to Canadian physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(Suppl 2) https://​doi.​org/​10.​1186/​s12889-018-5897-4.
46.
Best P, Tully MA, Corepal R, Kee F, Hunter RF. Time to ‘re-think’ physical activity promotion for young people? Results from a repeated cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2017;17(1):208.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
47.
Xu F, Wang X, Xiang D, Wang Z, Ye Q, Ware RS. Awareness of knowledge and practice regarding physical activity: a population-based prospective, observational study among students in Nanjing. China PLoS One. 2017;12(6):e0179518.CrossRefPubMed
48.
Owen KB, Smith J, Lubans DR, Ng JY, Lonsdale C. Self-determined motivation and physical activity in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Prev Med. 2014;67:270–9.CrossRef
49.
Bauman AE, Reis RS, Sallis JF, Wells JC, Loos RJ, Martin BW. Correlates of physical activity: why are some people physically active and others not? Lancet. 2012;380(9838):258–71.CrossRefPubMed
50.
MacDonald DJ, Saunders TJ, Longmuir PE, Barnes JD, Belanger K, Bruner B, et al. A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between age, gender, and physical measures with adequacy in and predilection for physical activity. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(Suppl 2) https://​doi.​org/​10.​1186/​s12889-018-5893-8.
51.
Cairney J, Hay JA, Faught BE, Leger L, Mathers B. Generalized self-efficacy and performance on the 20-metre shuttle run in children. Am J Hum Biol. 2008;20(2):132–8.CrossRefPubMed
52.
53.
Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group. Canadian assessment of physical literacy: manual for test administration second edition. Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group; Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. 2014. https://​www.​capl-eclp.​ca/​capl-manual/​. Accessed 8 May 2018.
54.
55.
56.
Rao DP, Kropac E, Do MT, Roberts KC, Jayaraman GC. Childhood overweight and obesity trends in Canada. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2016;36(9):194–8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metadata
Title
Physical literacy levels of Canadian children aged 8–12 years: descriptive and normative results from the RBC Learn to Play–CAPL project
Authors
Mark S. Tremblay
Patricia E. Longmuir
Joel D. Barnes
Kevin Belanger
Kristal D. Anderson
Brenda Bruner
Jennifer L. Copeland
Christine Delisle Nyström
Melanie J. Gregg
Nathan Hall
Angela M. Kolen
Kirstin N. Lane
Barbi Law
Dany J. MacDonald
Luc J. Martin
Travis J. Saunders
Dwayne Sheehan
Michelle R. Stone
Sarah J. Woodruff
Publication date
01-10-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue Special Issue 2/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5891-x

Other articles of this Special Issue 2/2018

BMC Public Health 2/2018 Go to the issue

Research

Physical Literacy Knowledge Questionnaire: feasibility, validity, and reliability for Canadian children aged 8 to 12 years

Research

Associations between teacher training and measures of physical literacy among Canadian 8- to 12-year-old students

Research

Revising the motivation and confidence domain of the Canadian assessment of physical literacy

Research

The relationship between physical literacy scores and adherence to Canadian physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines

Research

A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between age, gender, and physical measures with adequacy in and predilection for physical activity

Research

The relationship between sedentary behaviour and physical literacy in Canadian children: a cross-sectional analysis from the RBC-CAPL Learn to Play study