A socio-ecological approach to physical activity interventions in childcare: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Child Health
• Public Health Interventions
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Promoting physical activity (PA) in early childhood is crucial for long-term health.
• Childcare settings are key environments for implementing interventions.
• Current PA levels in young children often fall short of recommended guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review evidence on physical activity interventions for children aged 2-6 years in childcare settings.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions using a socio-ecological approach.
• To identify potential components that mediate successful PA promotion.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across four major databases (SPORTDiscus, ISI Web of Science, PsycINFO, ERIC).
• Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed studies of PA interventions in childcare for 2-6 year olds, measuring pre- and post-intervention PA.
• Methodological quality of 23 included studies was assessed, with 7 rated high, 12 moderate, and 4 low.

Main Results:

• Fourteen of the 23 studies reported increases in children's PA levels or reductions in sedentary time.
• Observed changes in PA were generally modest.
• PA-specific in-service teacher training emerged as a potentially effective strategy.

Conclusions:

• Existing PA interventions in childcare show limited effectiveness, with children's PA levels remaining low.
• Current data are insufficient to draw firm conclusions on specific intervention components.
• More intensive, multilevel, and multicomponent interventions may be necessary to meet recommended PA guidelines.