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Factors associated with physical activity in children attending family child care homes

Katherine B Gunter1, Kelly R Rice, Dianne S Ward

  • 1College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. Kathy.gunter@oregonstate.edu

Preventive Medicine
|December 20, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Family child care homes (FCCHs) with more outdoor active play, varied equipment, and engaging staff promote higher physical activity (PA) in children. These findings can inform policies to boost children's activity levels.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Family child care homes (FCCHs) are crucial settings for early childhood development.
  • Promoting physical activity (PA) in young children is essential for their long-term health.
  • Understanding factors within FCCHs that influence PA is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between family child care home practices and characteristics with objectively measured physical activity (PA) in children.
  • To identify specific FCCH environmental and programmatic factors that support higher levels of children's PA.

Main Methods:

  • Practices and characteristics of 45 FCCHs were assessed using the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care Instrument.
  • 136 children aged 2–5 years wore accelerometers for one week to measure PA objectively.
  • PA was quantified into light, moderate, and vigorous intensity levels per hour.

Main Results:

  • Higher PA levels (min/h) were associated with sufficient outdoor active play, use of portable play equipment, diverse fixed play equipment, and adequate indoor play space.
  • Engaging in active play with children and receiving activity-related training also correlated with increased PA.
  • Specific associations were statistically significant (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first evidence linking specific FCCH practices and characteristics to children's PA.
  • Findings highlight the importance of the FCCH environment and staff engagement in promoting children's physical activity.
  • Recommendations for program and policy development to enhance PA in FCCH settings are suggested.
Abstract

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