Diverse group of teenagers born prematurely engage in varied leisure activities, symbolizing growth and support.

Beyond Playdates: Helping Preemies Thrive Through Tailored Leisure Activities

Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how understanding activity preferences can unlock a world of possibilities for adolescents born prematurely, fostering health and development beyond traditional therapies."

Adolescence marks a pivotal phase of self-discovery, with increased autonomy, peer interactions, and decision-making opportunities. Leisure, the way teens choose to spend their free time, plays a crucial role in their development and overall health. These activities, whether structured sports or spontaneous hobbies, shape their physical, social, and emotional well-being.

While the benefits of physical activity are undeniable, adolescents with disabilities, including those born prematurely, often face declining engagement in sports and other activities. This can negatively affect their physical health and limit their social and emotional growth. Understanding the activity preferences of these adolescents is essential to promoting healthier choices and maintaining participation levels.

Studies reveal that adolescents born preterm may experience behavioral and learning challenges that restrict their participation in various activities. By identifying their preferred leisure pursuits and addressing potential barriers, we can empower them to lead active lifestyles and foster meaningful engagement in enjoyable activities.

Decoding Activity Preferences: What Do Preemies Really Enjoy?

Diverse group of teenagers born prematurely engage in varied leisure activities, symbolizing growth and support.

A recent study investigated the activity preferences of 127 adolescents born extremely preterm (at or before 29 weeks gestation). The participants, aged 12 to 20, were assessed using the Preferences for Activities of Children (PAC) questionnaire. Researchers also considered factors such as cognitive ability, motor competence, and social support to understand how these elements influence activity choices.

The study revealed some interesting trends:

Social Butterflies: Adolescents born preterm showed a strong interest in social activities.
Gender Differences: Girls favored social, skill-based, and self-improvement activities, while boys leaned towards active-physical pursuits.
Cognitive Connection: Those with lower cognitive abilities showed less interest in social activities.
Motivation Matters: Sex and mastery motivation significantly influenced activity preferences, explaining a notable portion of the variance in skill-based, social, and active-physical activities.

The study highlights the importance of understanding individual preferences and tailoring activities to suit specific needs and interests. By providing positive, sex-specific opportunities for mastery and early successes, we can encourage healthier choices and continued participation among adolescents born preterm.

Empowering Preemies: A Call to Action for Healthier Lifestyles

By understanding the activity preferences of adolescents born preterm, healthcare professionals, educators, and families can work together to promote healthier choices and sustained engagement. Providing affordable leisure opportunities, adapting activities to individual skill levels, and fostering physical health within preferred activities are crucial steps in empowering these adolescents to thrive. Together, we can unlock a world of possibilities and help them lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4172/2375-4494.1000186, Alternate LINK

Title: What Do You Like To Do In Your Free Time? Activity Preferences Of Adolescents Born Extremely Preterm

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Journal of Child and Adolescent Behaviour

Publisher: OMICS Publishing Group

Authors: Line Nadeau Annette Majnemer

Published: 2015-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

How do leisure activities impact the well-being of adolescents, especially those born prematurely?

Leisure activities, encompassing both structured sports and spontaneous hobbies, significantly shape the physical, social, and emotional well-being of adolescents. Tailoring these activities to individual preferences and needs is particularly crucial for those born prematurely, as it promotes healthier choices and sustains engagement, fostering a more fulfilling life.

What assessment tool was employed to understand the activity preferences of adolescents born preterm, and what other factors were considered?

The Preferences for Activities of Children (PAC) questionnaire was used to assess the activity preferences of 127 adolescents born extremely preterm, specifically those born at or before 29 weeks gestation. This assessment, combined with considerations of cognitive ability, motor competence, and social support, provided insights into how these elements influence activity choices.

According to the study, what key trends were observed in the activity preferences of adolescents born preterm regarding social engagement, gender differences, and the influence of cognitive abilities?

The study found that adolescents born preterm showed a strong interest in social activities, highlighting the importance of peer interactions. Additionally, gender differences were observed, with girls favoring social, skill-based, and self-improvement activities, while boys leaned towards active-physical pursuits. Lower cognitive abilities correlated with less interest in social activities, underscoring the influence of cognitive function on activity preferences. Sex and mastery motivation were also found to significantly influence activity preferences, explaining a notable portion of the variance in skill-based, social, and active-physical activities.

What strategies can be employed to address the declining engagement in sports and other activities among adolescents with disabilities, particularly those born prematurely?

Addressing the decline in engagement in sports and other activities among adolescents with disabilities, including those born prematurely, requires a multi-faceted approach. This involves understanding their individual activity preferences, providing affordable leisure opportunities, adapting activities to individual skill levels, and fostering physical health within preferred activities. By identifying and addressing potential barriers, we can empower them to lead active lifestyles and foster meaningful engagement in enjoyable activities.

Why is it important to offer opportunities for mastery and early successes when encouraging adolescents born preterm to participate in leisure activities, and who can implement these strategies?

Providing positive, sex-specific opportunities for mastery and early successes is crucial in encouraging healthier choices and continued participation among adolescents born preterm. This tailored approach can help build confidence, foster a sense of accomplishment, and promote sustained engagement in activities that contribute to their overall well-being. Health care professionals, educators and families can implement strategies to help.