Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Step count targets corresponding to new physical activity guidelines for the early years
Leigh Gabel1, Nicole A Proudfoot, Joyce Obeid
1Child Health & Exercise Medicine Program, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
A daily step count target of 6000 steps is recommended for preschoolers aged 3-5 years to meet new physical activity guidelines. This target helps monitor children's daily activity levels effectively.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Exercise Science
- Public Health
- Biomedical Research
Background:
- New physical activity guidelines suggest 180 minutes of daily activity for 3-4 year olds, progressing to 60 minutes of energetic play by age 5.
- Establishing step count targets is crucial for accurately monitoring children's adherence to these physical activity recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To derive and validate step count targets that correspond to current physical activity guidelines for preschool-aged children.
- To provide practitioners and researchers with a reliable metric for assessing children's physical activity levels.
Main Methods:
- 133 preschoolers wore accelerometers for seven days to collect activity and step count data.
- Regression analyses were used to derive step count targets equivalent to physical activity recommendations.
- Receiver operating curve analyses assessed the sensitivity and specificity of various step count targets.
Main Results:
- A daily step count target of 6013 +/- 88 was derived for 180 minutes of any-intensity physical activity.
- A target of 6191 +/- 103 was derived for 180 minutes of activity including 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity.
- A 6000 steps per day target demonstrated the smallest discrepancy with physical activity guidelines and showed balanced sensitivity and specificity.
Conclusions:
- A recommended daily step count target of 6000 steps should be adopted for 3- to 5-year-old children.
- This 6000-step target serves as a practical tool for evaluating adherence to physical activity recommendations in young children.
Purpose:
New physical activity guidelines recommend that children age 3–4 yr should accumulate at least 180 min of physical activity at any intensity spread throughout the day, including progression toward at least 60 min of energetic play by 5 yr of age. Step count targets corresponding to these recommendations will help practitioners and researchers monitor physical activity.
Methods:
One hundred thirty-three preschoolers were instructed to wear accelerometers for seven consecutive days. Activity and step count data were recorded in 3-s epochs. Step count targets equivalent to physical activity recommendations were derived using prediction equations from regression analyses. Receiver operating curve analyses were conducted to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the derived thresholds as well as a range of other targets.
Results:
The daily step count target derived for 180 min of physical activity of any intensity was 6013 +/- 88, whereas the target for 180 min of physical activity of any intensity including at least 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was 6191 +/- 103. The smallest discrepancy between days meeting physical activity guidelines and step count targets was found with a 6000-step-per-day target. Receiver operating curves confirmed a balanced sensitivity and specificity of this target.
Conclusions:
On the basis of our data, we suggest that a new step count target of 6000 steps per day should be used to determine whether 3- to 5-yr-old children are meeting physical activity recommendations.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Guidelines For Measuring Vital Signs
Before taking a patient's vital signs, a nurse would consider and assess the patient's comfort level and ensure appropriate equipment is available.
01:10Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Blood Pressure