Method: A convenience sample of 228 parents of CWD in South Korea completed a questionnaire; 90% of the participants were mothers of their child. The questionnaire includes parental perceptions on amount of screen time (watching TV, playing video games and/or using the computer) by their child, the quality of after school program that their child was participating in and other background questions regarding after school program. The question items were open ended and 7 Likert-type scale was used.
Analysis/Results: A total of 91.2% of parents reported that their child was participating in at least one after school PA program. The programs were common adapted PA programs (64%), swimming (13.8%), exercise therapy (12%), sensory motor activities (9%), and fitness programs (5%). A majority of the parents answered that the quality of the programs were very good (24%), good (51%), and somewhat good (11%). About 52% of the parents reported that the quality of the PA programs were either very good or good. The time spent participating in PA programs (min/week) was 1 to 60 min (34%), 61 to 120 (29%), 121 to 180 (12%), 181 to 240 (8%), and more than 240 (9%). The screen time per week was 0 min (18%), 1 to 60 (6%), 61 to 120 (5%), 121 to 180 (3%), 181 to 240 (9%), 241 to 300 (5%), and 301 to 2400 (54%). When the parents were asked to describe the greatest challenges they faced in supporting their child’s participation in PA programs, they answered that program accessibility, no various programs in community, cost (financial support), child’s preference, and instructors’ knowledge were their challenges in supporting their CWD.
Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that many Korean CWD were participating in at least one after school PA program, and a majority of the parents were satisfied the quality of the programs. Only about 9% of parents reported that their child engaged in regular PA programs at least 300 min/wk (60 min/day, at least 5 days of week). Some CWD also spent too much screen time. Educating Korean parents in regards to the promotion of regular PA levels of their CWD is needed.