The "A+Games" study aims to i) investigate the effectiveness of online daily workout for improving physical activity level at home in primary school-age children, and ii) to examine the underlying mechanisms behind the change in physical activity associated with SDT. This study will conduct a randomized controlled trial by recruiting primary school students and their guardians from seven local primary schools. A total of 119 children and their guardians were recruited, aged between six and nine years old. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups:

i) HAC (with exercise selection), ii) Q (with guidance prompts), iii) HAC-Q (exercise selection + guidance prompts), and iv) control group (wait-list control group) .

 

Students completed independent assessments at their respective schools, and guardians and children wore wrist accelerometer watches for seven days. During this time, the device recorded the intensity of the guardians’ and children’s body movements and the amount of activity. Participants generally wore the watches at all times, except when taking off the devices for water activities such as bathing or swimming.

 

Over the next eight weeks, guardians were given guidance via a private Facebook group to help their children complete the daily exercise program. Guardians were encouraged to read and interact (e.g., like posts) and upload photos or videos of their children’s progress. Guardians and children completed 15-minute questionnaires before and after the eight-week exercise program, and during an additional eight-week follow-up period. The questionnaires were taken back to school by the children and submitted to the responsible teacher. The entire research project was conducted between 2022 and 2024.