Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 26, 2026
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Physical activity in different preschool settings: an exploratory study
Katrin Röttger1, Elke Grimminger2, Friederike Kreuser1
1Institute of Sport and Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstraße 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany.
Insights
Preschool programs and family factors influence children's physical activity (PA). A higher number of children and family anthropometrics predict PA engagement, suggesting targeted interventions are needed.
Area of Science:
- Child Health
- Pediatric Obesity Prevention
- Early Childhood Education
Background:
- Physical activity (PA) in preschoolers is crucial for preventing obesity.
- Early-life factors significantly impact PA levels in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the influence of diverse preschool programs on preschoolers' PA.
- To investigate the role of family factors in preschoolers' PA across different countries.
Main Methods:
- Direct accelerometry measured PA in 114 children (age 5.3 ± 0.65 years) across four cities in the Upper Rhine region.
- Preschool timetables were analyzed, alongside anthropometrical and family-related data.
Main Results:
- Children in Strasbourg and Landau showed significantly lower PA levels compared to those in Basel and Freiburg (P < .01).
- Higher birth order (more children in a family) and maternal/child anthropometrics predicted greater PA engagement.
Conclusions:
- Preschool system structure (e.g., open vs. regimented) did not solely determine PA levels.
- Caregiver training and family context interventions may be key to enhancing preschoolers' PA.
Introduction:
Physical activity (PA) in preschoolers is vital to protect against obesity but is influenced by different early-life factors. The present study investigated the impact of different preschool programs and selected family factors on preschoolers' PA in different countries in an explorative way.
Methods:
The PA of 114 children (age = 5.3 ± 0.65 years) attending different preschool settings in four cities of the trinational Upper Rhine region (Freiburg, Landau/Germany, Basel/Switzerland, and Strasbourg/France) was measured by direct accelerometry. Anthropometrical and family-related data were obtained. Timetables of preschools were analyzed.
Results:
Comparing the preschool settings, children from Strasbourg and Landau were significantly more passive than children from Basel and Freiburg (P < .01). With regard to the family context as an important early-life factor, a higher number of children in a family along with the mother's and child's anthropometrical status are predictors of engagement in PA.
Conclusion:
More open preschool systems such as those in Basel, Freiburg, and Landau do not lead to more PA "per se" compared to the highly regimented desk-based system in France. Preliminaries such as special training and the number of caregivers might be necessary elements to enhance PA. In family contexts, targeted PA interventions for special groups should be more focused in the future.
More Related Videos
06:00Four Temporary Waterslide Designs Adapted to Different Slope Conditions to Encourage Child Socialization in Playgrounds
Published on: December 9, 2022
08:22Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges
Published on: February 25, 2016
