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A comparative analysis of objectively assessed physical activity levels in kindergarten and home among children aged
Jarosław Herbert1, Piotr Matłosz1, Wojciech Ratkowski2
1Faculty of Physical Culture Sciences, Medical College, University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów, Poland.
Insights
Children engage in more light physical activity (PA) at kindergarten but higher moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) at home. Socioeconomic factors influenced activity levels, with disadvantages potentially linked to increased PA in early childhood.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Public Health
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Physical activity (PA) in early childhood is crucial for overall health and development.
- Understanding PA patterns across different environments (home vs. kindergarten) is essential for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare children's physical activity levels in kindergarten versus home settings.
- To examine the influence of socioeconomic indicators on physical activity in 5-6-year-old children.
Main Methods:
- Objective measurement of physical activity using ActiGraph accelerometers in 522 children (aged 5-6 years).
- Parent-reported socioeconomic indicators were collected.
- Statistical analysis to compare PA levels between settings and by sex and socioeconomic status.
Main Results:
- Children accumulated more light PA in kindergarten, but higher moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) at home.
- Boys consistently exhibited higher PA levels than girls in both settings.
- Lower parental education and less favorable financial conditions were associated with higher PA and MVPA, particularly in the kindergarten setting.
Conclusions:
- The home environment plays a significant role in children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
- Certain socioeconomic disadvantages may be linked to higher physical activity levels in early childhood, warranting further investigation.
Abstract:
Children's physical activity (PA) is positively associated with a wide range of developmental and health outcomes. This study compared individual levels of PA in children aged 5-6 years across two settings: kindergarten and home. A total of 522 children (51.9% girls) participated. PA was objectively measured using ActiGraph GT3X-BT accelerometers, and selected socioeconomic indicators (SSI) were parent-reported. Children accumulated significantly more light physical activity (PA) in kindergarten than at home, whereas moderate, vigorous, and total moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were significantly higher at home than in kindergarten (all p < 0.001). Boys showed consistently higher PA levels than girls in both environments. Notably, median MVPA in boys was 22.7 min at home and 17.3 min in kindergarten, compared to 19.0 and 14.0 min in girls, respectively. Median daily step counts in the total sample were also significantly higher at home (3315.5) than in kindergarten (3111.0). Significant associations were observed between selected SSI and PA. Lower parental education levels were associated with higher step counts, light (father's education) and moderate PA (mother's education) in kindergarten. Children from families with less favorable financial conditions also had higher MVPA in kindergarten. These findings underscore the importance of the home environment and suggest that certain aspects of socioeconomic disadvantage may be linked to higher PA levels in early childhood.
