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Objectively measured sedentary behavior in preschool children: comparison between Montessori and traditional
Wonwoo Byun1, Steven N Blair, Russell R Pate
1Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA. byun@email.sc.edu
Insights
Children in Montessori preschools exhibit less sedentary behavior than those in traditional settings. This objectively measured difference was observed across in-school, after-school, and total-day periods, highlighting potential benefits of the Montessori approach for physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Early Childhood Education
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Sedentary behavior in early childhood is a growing public health concern.
- Understanding environmental influences on children's activity levels is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare objectively measured sedentary behavior levels in preschoolers attending Montessori versus traditional preschools.
- To identify potential predictors of sedentary behavior in preschool settings.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ActiGraph accelerometers to objectively measure sedentary behavior in 4-year-old preschoolers.
- Defined sedentary behavior as <200 counts/15-second interval.
- Employed mixed linear regression models to analyze differences between preschool types, adjusting for covariates.
Main Results:
- Montessori preschool attendees showed significantly lower sedentary behavior (minutes per hour) during in-school, after-school, and total-day periods compared to traditional preschool attendees.
- School type, preschool setting (private/public), and socio-demographic factors were significant predictors of sedentary behavior.
Conclusions:
- Montessori preschools are associated with lower objectively measured sedentary behavior in young children.
- Further investigation into specific Montessori characteristics that promote reduced sedentary behavior is warranted.
Background:
This study aimed to compare the levels of objectively-measured sedentary behavior in children attending Montessori preschools with those attending traditional preschools.
Methods:
The participants in this study were preschool children aged 4 years old who were enrolled in Montessori and traditional preschools. The preschool children wore ActiGraph accelerometers. Accelerometers were initialized using 15-second intervals and sedentary behavior was defined as <200 counts/15-second. The accelerometry data were summarized into the average minutes per hour spent in sedentary behavior during the in-school, the after-school, and the total-day period. Mixed linear regression models were used to determine differences in the average time spent in sedentary behavior between children attending traditional and Montessori preschools, after adjusting for selected potential correlates of preschoolers' sedentary behavior.
Results:
Children attending Montessori preschools spent less time in sedentary behavior than those attending traditional preschools during the in-school (44.4. min/hr vs. 47.1 min/hr, P = 0.03), after-school (42.8. min/hr vs. 44.7 min/hr, P = 0.04), and total-day (43.7 min/hr vs. 45.5 min/hr, P = 0. 009) periods. School type (Montessori or traditional), preschool setting (private or public), socio-demographic factors (age, gender, and socioeconomic status) were found to be significant predictors of preschoolers' sedentary behavior.
Conclusions:
Levels of objectively-measured sedentary behavior were significantly lower among children attending Montessori preschools compared to children attending traditional preschools. Future research should examine the specific characteristics of Montessori preschools that predict the lower levels of sedentary behavior among children attending these preschools compared to children attending traditional preschools.
