The Influence of Centre-Based Childcare on Preschoolers’ Physical Activity Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study

Autor: Leigh M. Vanderloo; Patricia Tucker; Andrew M. Johnson; Melissa M. van Zandvoort; Shauna M. Burke; Jennifer D. Irwin
Sprache: Englisch
Veröffentlicht: 2014
Quelle: Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles
Online Zugang: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/2/1794
https://doaj.org/toc/1660-4601
1660-4601
doi:10.3390/ijerph110201794
https://doaj.org/article/7572fb5f424249f19eca2a3a64c4e7c8
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph110201794
https://doaj.org/article/7572fb5f424249f19eca2a3a64c4e7c8
Erfassungsnummer: ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:7572fb5f424249f19eca2a3a64c4e7c8

Zusammenfassung

The childcare environment represents an appropriate avenue to support physical activity among preschoolers. The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) to measure the physical activity levels of a sample of preschoolers during childcare hours; and (2) to assess which attributes (e.g., space, equipment, policies) within centre-based childcare environments influenced physical activity. Thirty-one preschoolers from 5 childcare centres across London, Canada participated. Actical accelerometers were worn by participants for one day during childcare hours to assess activity levels using a 15 second epoch length. The Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation instrument was used to conduct a full-day evaluation of the childcare environment. On average, participants engaged in 1.54 min/h of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and 17.42 min/h of total physical activity. Sedentary opportunities, portable and fixed play equipment, and staff behaviour accounted for 49.3% of the variability in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and 14.1% of the variability in total physical activity, with sedentary opportunities, fixed play equipment, and staff behaviours displaying an inverse relationship. Results emphasize the critical role the childcare environment plays in supporting physical activity among preschoolers.