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Child physical activity levels and associations with modifiable characteristics in centre-based childcare
A Colin Bell1,2,3, Meghan Finch1,4, Luke Wolfenden1,4
1School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, New South Wales.
Insights
Childcare physical activity is higher when centers have written policies and staff lead or join in active play. These factors are key for promoting children's movement during care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Childcare Interventions
- Physical Activity Research
Background:
- Preschool physical activity levels are crucial for child development.
- Childcare settings offer opportunities to influence children's activity behaviors.
- Understanding modifiable factors within childcare is essential for effective interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify physical activity in preschool children attending long day care.
- To examine associations between children's physical activity and childcare characteristics.
- To identify modifiable factors within childcare settings that influence physical activity.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 328 preschool children (aged 3-5 years) and 145 staff across 20 long day care centers.
- Objective measurement of child physical activity using pedometers.
- Assessment of center characteristics and staff behaviors via surveys, interviews, and observational audits.
Main Results:
- Children averaged 15.8 steps/minute, with four-year-olds showing the highest activity levels.
- Significantly higher step counts were observed in centers with a written physical activity policy.
- Staff-led structured physical activity and staff participation in active play were associated with increased child step counts.
Conclusions:
- Written physical activity policies in childcare settings are linked to higher children's physical activity.
- Structured, staff-led physical activities and staff engagement in play positively influence children's activity levels.
- Interventions should focus on implementing policies and supporting staff-led activities to boost physical activity in childcare.
Objective:
To describe children's physical activity levels during childcare and associations with modifiable characteristics.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study of 328 preschool children (43% girls; age 3-5 years) and 145 staff from 20 long day care centres in the Hunter Region of NSW, Australia. Pedometers assessed child physical activity levels. Centre characteristics and staff attitudes and behaviours towards children's physical activity were assessed using surveys, interviews and observational audit. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression.
Results:
Over the measurement period, average step count of children was 15.8 (SD=6.8) steps/minute. Four-year-olds had the highest step counts (16.4, SD=7.1, p=0.03) with no differences by sex. Step counts were significantly higher in centres that had a written physical activity policy (+3.8 steps/minute, p=0.03) and where staff led structured physical activity (+3.7 steps/minute, p<0.001) and joined in active play (+2.9 steps/minute, p=0.06).
Conclusions:
Written physical activity policy, structured staff-led physical activity and staff joining in active play were associated with higher levels of physical activity.
Implications:
Childcare physical activity interventions should consider including strategies to encourage written physical activity policies and support structured staff led physical activities.
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