As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, educational and sports facilities were closed and physical activity range and time were temporarily restricted, among other measures. It is currently unclear what impact the COVID-19 pandemic and containment efforts have had on the physical activity behaviors and physical activity levels of children and their parents, and what factors positively or negatively influence physical activity behaviors.
With financial support from the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia, the research areas of Sport Psychology, Physical Education and Teaching Research, Neuromotor Behavior and Exercise, and Social Sciences of Sport have jointly initiated a project to investigate exercise and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as influencing factors and effects on fitness, motor skills, and coordination in childhood. Components include motor testing, a parent survey, and monitoring of child and parent physical activity via accelerometer measurements. The surveys will start in early May.