Play Equipment Diversity at Home: Unraveling Its Relationship With Screen Time Among Preschoolers in China

Evidence linking specific types and quantities of home play equipment to preschoolers' screen time is limited, with unclear differences between weekdays and weekends and scarce data from Asian contexts. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the quantity of play equipment at home in various categories and screen time on both weekdays and weekends, as well as to assess potential differences based on sex.

In this cross-sectional study, 610 preschoolers and their parents participated. Parents reported the availability of play equipment at home using questionnaires, which were then categorized by physical and functional characteristics. Additionally, parents provided information on their children's screen time using the Children's Leisure Activities Study Survey questionnaire-Chinese version, along with demographic details. Generalized linear models with a gamma distribution and log link were utilized to examine the relationship between play equipment at home and screen time.

A total of 610 preschoolers (5.3 [1.0] y; 55.9% boys) were included in the analysis. A greater availability of equipment that fosters multiple movement skills was linked to reduced screen time on weekdays (B = -0.04; 95% confidence interval, -0.06 to -0.01). Additionally, a higher quantity of equipment with specific physical (eg, medium, portability, outdoor suitability) and functional features (eg, team-based use, recreational purpose, moderate to vigorous intensity, and multiskill development) was correlated with lower weekend screen time. These associations varied between boys and girls.

Our findings demonstrated a connection between the presence of play equipment at home and screen time, especially during weekends. An increased amount of equipment with certain physical and functional traits was associated with reduced screen time. These insights highlight the importance of focusing on specific equipment features to promote healthier lifestyles for preschoolers.