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Relationship between time use in physical activity and gross motor performance of preschool children
Ling-Yi Lin1,2, Rong-Ju Cherng2,3, Yung-Jung Chen4
1Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Insights
Most Taiwanese preschoolers do not meet physical activity recommendations. Lower physical activity is linked to motor difficulties, and parental education and child weight influence participation. Establishing guidelines is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Child Development
- Physical Activity Research
Background:
- Physical activity is crucial for child health, yet data on Asian children's participation is scarce.
- Understanding physical activity levels in Taiwanese preschoolers is essential for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify physical activity time in Taiwanese preschoolers.
- To investigate the association between physical activity and gross motor performance.
- To inform the development of physical activity guidelines for this population.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 264 children aged 36-71 months from a Taiwanese medical center and preschools.
- Assessed physical activity using the modified Preschool-aged Children's Physical Activity Questionnaire.
- Evaluated gross motor skills with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition.
Main Results:
- 89.8% of participants failed to meet recommended physical activity durations.
- Average low-intensity physical activity was 155 minutes/week.
- Motor difficulties, maternal education, and child's weight status correlated with physical activity levels.
Conclusions:
- Paediatric occupational therapists should educate parents on physical activity's role in motor development.
- Advocacy for developmentally appropriate physical activities is recommended.
- Urgent establishment of physical activity guidelines for Taiwanese preschoolers is needed.
Background/Aim:
Participation in physical activity is an important health concern for children in most Western communities, but little is known about Asian children's participation. The purpose of this study was to extend the current knowledge on how much time preschool children in Taiwan spend on physical activity, to examine its relationship with gross motor performance and to provide information on the establishment of physical activity guidelines for preschool children in Taiwan.
Methods:
Two hundred and sixty-four children between 36 and 71 months old were recruited from a university medical centre and from preschools in Taiwan. The primary outcomes were measured using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition and the modified Preschool-aged Children's Physical Activity Questionnaire.
Results:
89.8% of our participants did not meet the recommendations from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education for time spent in physical activities. Participants spent an average of 155 minutes/week in low intensity physical activity. Children with motor difficulties tended to spend less time on physical activity than did typically developing children. The mother's level of education and whether the child was overweight or obese correlated with how much time the children spent on physical activity.
Conclusions:
We conclude that paediatric occupational therapists should explain to parents the relationship between physical activity and motor development and advocate for developmentally positive physical activities for preschool children. Physical activity guidelines for Taiwanese preschoolers should be established immediately.
