Academia and Society B.Balachandar, P. Swarnakumari 12 2 2026 https://doi.org/10.6025/aas/2025/12/2/31-43 https://www.dline.info/aas/fulltext/v12n2/aasv12n2_3.pdf Background: Children with cerebral palsy (CP) encounter substantial barriers to participation in enjoyable physical activity, despite strong evidence that enjoyment enhances motivation, engagement, and sustained participation. Although play-based approaches are increasingly advocated in paediatric rehabilitation, enjoyment is rarely examined as a primary outcome. Objective: To evaluate the immediate effects of a structured play-based physical activity programme on enjoyment among children with CP using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES). Methods:A randomized wait-list controlled trial was conducted with 84 children aged 5–17 years with CP (GMFCS levels I–V). Participants were randomly allocated to an Immediate Play group (n = 42) or a Wait-List Control group (n = 42), with stratification based on GMFCS level. The Immediate Play group received a 12-week structured play-based physical activity programme comprising 36 sessions. Enjoyment was assessed before and after the intervention using PACES. Within- and between-group differences were analysed using paired and independent t-tests, and effect sizes were calculated. Results:The Immediate Play group demonstrated a substantial increase in enjoyment (mean change = +9.48 ± 3.11; p < 0.001), whereas the Wait-List Control group showed minimal improvement (+0.90 ± 0.91; p < 0.001). Between-group comparison revealed a large and statistically significant difference in change scores (mean difference = 8.58; p < 0.001), with an extremely large effect size (Cohen’s d = 3.74).Conclusion: A structured play-based physical activity programme significantly enhances enjoyment in children with cerebral palsy. Incorporating enjoyable, child-centred play into rehabilitation may strengthen motivation and support sustained participation in physical activity.