Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
06:51

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training

Published on: July 27, 2022

Influences of preschool policies and practices on children's physical activity

Marsha Dowda1, Russell R Pate, Stewart G Trost

  • 1Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA. mdowda@gwm.sc.edu

Journal of Community Health
|May 15, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Preschool quality and resources impact children's physical activity. Higher quality preschools with more field trips and educated teachers correlate with increased moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Public Health
  • Early Childhood Education

Background:

  • Preschool physical activity (PA) is crucial for development.
  • Understanding factors influencing PA in early childhood settings is important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between preschool policies/practices, overall quality, and children's moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Main Methods:

  • 266 children (3-5 years) from 9 preschools were observed over 3 days.
  • Physical activity was scored (1-5) twice per minute.
  • Preschool policies and quality (ECERS-R) were assessed.

Main Results:

  • Preschools with more field trips and college-educated teachers had children with higher MVPA.
  • Children in lower-quality preschools exhibited more sedentary activity.
  • Higher quality preschools were associated with both increased MVPA and sedentary behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Preschool resources and quality appear to influence children's physical activity levels.
  • Both increased MVPA and sedentary behavior were observed in children attending higher-resourced, higher-quality preschools.

More Related Videos

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity05:59

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity

Published on: March 7, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development01:30

Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development

Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity01:23

Influence of Parents and Peers on Identity

Adolescence is a pivotal period of identity formation, during which individuals begin to answer questions central to their sense of self, such as "Who am I?" and "Who do I hope to become?" Both parents and peers play critical roles in guiding adolescents through this complex developmental phase.
Parental Influence on Identity Development
Parents serve as primary guides and managers in an adolescent's life, offering support instrumental in decision-making and personal growth. This guiding role...
Naturalistic Observations02:30

Naturalistic Observations

If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
Information Processing Approach01:30

Information Processing Approach

The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is also...