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

Leigh M. Vanderloo, Patricia Tucker, Andrew M. Johnson, Melissa M. Van Zandvoort, Shauna M. Burke and Jennifer D. Irwin
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Leigh M. Vanderloo: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
Patricia Tucker: School of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada
Andrew M. Johnson: School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
Melissa M. Van Zandvoort: Central East Tobacco Control Area Network (TCAN), Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, Barrie, ON L4M 6K9, Canada
Shauna M. Burke: School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
Jennifer D. Irwin: School of Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada

IJERPH, 2014, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-9

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: preschool-aged children; accelerometry; childcare environment; health promotion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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