Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2025
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Longitudinal Change in Physical Activity in Children 6 to 36 Months of Age
Russell R Pate1, Marsha Dowda1, Alexander C McLain2
1Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
Insights
Physical activity (PA) in children significantly increases from 6 to 36 months, with most gains by 24 months. Factors like older siblings positively influence PA, while screen time negatively impacts it.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric developmental science
- Human movement and kinesiology
- Childhood physical activity research
Background:
- Understanding physical activity (PA) developmental trajectories in early childhood is crucial for establishing lifelong healthy habits.
- Longitudinal data on factors influencing PA during the critical transition from infancy to preschool age are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the developmental pattern of physical activity (PA) in children aged 6 to 36 months.
- To identify longitudinal correlates of PA during this developmental period.
Main Methods:
- Prospective longitudinal study with 124 mother-infant dyads followed from 6 to 36 months.
- Physical activity (PA) measured using accelerometry; data collected at 6-month intervals.
- Growth curve modeling used to analyze PA patterns and associated factors from questionnaires and developmental assessments.
Main Results:
- Physical activity (PA) increased by approximately 45% between 6 and 36 months, showing a curvilinear pattern peaking by 24 months.
- Childhood exposure to electronic media was negatively associated with changes in PA.
- The presence of older siblings in the home was positively associated with changes in PA.
Conclusions:
- Children experience substantial increases in physical activity (PA) as they grow from infancy to early childhood, primarily by 24 months.
- Environmental factors, including sibling presence and media exposure, play a role in shaping early childhood PA trajectories.
Objective:
To describe the developmental pattern for physical activity (PA) in children 6-36 months of age and to identify factors that are longitudinally associated with PA as children transition from infancy to preschool age.
Study Design:
The study employed a prospective longitudinal design with baseline data collected when children were approximately 6 months of age. Mothers and infants (n = 124) were recruited through community and educational settings in South Carolina. Data were collected at 6-month intervals from 6 to 36 months. PA was measured via accelerometry. Mothers completed questionnaires that assessed independent variables, including parent characteristics, the child's sex, race, and ethnicity, birth/delivery type, motor milestones, sleep habits, dietary practices, childcare setting, and home environmental factors. Trained research staff administered anthropometric measures and assessed motor developmental status. Growth curve models described the age-related pattern for PA and evaluated relationships between independent variables and change in PA.
Results:
PA increased by approximately 45% between 6 and 36 months of age and followed a curvilinear pattern, with most of the increase occurring between 6 and 24 months. The child's exposure to television/electronic media was negatively associated with change in PA, and the presence of older siblings in the home was positively associated with change in PA.
Conclusions:
As children develop from infancy to early childhood, their PA increases substantially, with most of the increase occurring by 24 months of age.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
01:26Longitudinal Studies