The effects of warm weather on children’s outdoor heat stress and physical activity in a preschool yard in Gothenburg

The study investigates how warm weather affects heat stress and physical activity among young children in a kindergarten yard in Gothenburg, Sweden. The goal is to identify how children adjust their behaviour in order to achieve comfort in warm conditions. By analysing activity levels and heat stress, researchers aim to highlight the importance of shady areas for children’s health and well-being in outdoor environments.

The results show that warm days reduce children’s activity and increase the time they spend in shady areas. The data indicated a lower average heart rate and fewer steps on the hottest days, suggesting that children seek shade to avoid heat stress. The results highlight the importance of shady areas in kindergartens to ensure children’s well-being and health.

Data were collected through GPS tracking, pulse meters and pedometers to measure children’s activity and thermal comfort in the kindergarten’s outdoor area. A weather station measured microclimate conditions, including temperature, humidity and wind. Shadow patterns were calculated with a model to assess how often children chose shade over sun in different weather conditions.

Wallenberg, N., Lindberg, F., Thorsson, S., Jungmalm, J., Fröberg, A., Raustorp, A., & Rayner, D. (2023). The effects of warm weather on children’s outdoor heat stress and physical activity in a preschool yard in Gothenburg, Sweden. International Journal of Biometeorology, 67(12), 1927–1940.