Promoting fundamental movement skill development and physical activity in early childhood settings: a cluster...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Early Childhood Education
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Preschool-aged children require structured physical activity for optimal development.
• Existing programs often lack feasibility and staff training for sustained implementation.
• Assessing novel intervention strategies is crucial for promoting healthy lifestyles from an early age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a staff-delivered physical activity program for preschool children.
• To compare outcomes between children in an intervention group and a control group receiving usual care.
• To measure improvements in movement skill development and objectively assessed physical activity.

Main Methods:

• A 20-week, 2-arm parallel cluster randomized controlled pilot trial.
• Intervention group: Structured physical activities and staff professional development.
• Control group: Usual care including designated playtime; outcomes measured via movement skill assessments and accelerometry.

Main Results:

• The intervention group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in overall movement skill proficiency (Cohen's d = 0.47).
• Objectively measured physical activity (counts per minute) significantly increased in the intervention group during the preschool day (Cohen's d = 0.46).
• The program was found to be feasible and acceptable to preschool staff and children.

Conclusions:

• A staff-implemented physical activity program is a viable approach for preschool settings.
• The program shows potential efficacy in enhancing both motor skills and physical activity levels in young children.
• Further research can build upon these findings to develop scalable interventions for early childhood physical activity.