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

Author

Listed:
  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Leigh M. Vanderloo & Patricia Tucker & Andrew M. Johnson & Melissa M. Van Zandvoort & Shauna M. Burke & Jennifer D. Irwin, 2014. "The Influence of Centre-Based Childcare on Preschoolers’ Physical Activity Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-9, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:11:y:2014:i:2:p:1794-1802:d:32719
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jessica S. Gubbels & Dave H. H. Van Kann & Greet Cardon & Stef P. J. Kremers, 2018. "Activating Childcare Environments for All Children: the Importance of Children’s Individual Needs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-11, July.
    2. Michelle Ng & Michael Rosenberg & Ashleigh Thornton & Leanne Lester & Stewart G. Trost & Pulan Bai & Hayley Christian, 2020. "The Effect of Upgrades to Childcare Outdoor Spaces on Preschoolers’ Physical Activity: Findings from a Natural Experiment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-17, January.
    3. Patricia Tucker & Brianne A. Bruijns & Kristi B. Adamo & Shauna M. Burke & Valerie Carson & Rachel Heydon & Jennifer D. Irwin & Andrew M. Johnson & Patti-Jean Naylor & Brian W. Timmons & Leigh M. Vand, 2022. "Training Pre-Service Early Childhood Educators in Physical Activity (TEACH): Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-27, March.
    4. Gillian Mandich & Shauna Burke & Anca Gaston & Patricia Tucker, 2015. "The Physical Activity Levels and Sedentary Behaviors of Latino Children in London (Ontario, Canada)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-12, May.
    5. Wonwoo Byun & Michael W. Beets & Russell R. Pate, 2015. "Sedentary Behavior in Preschoolers: How Many Days of Accelerometer Monitoring Is Needed?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-14, October.
    6. Ruth P. Saunders & Marsha Dowda & Karin A. Pfeiffer & William H. Brown & Russell R. Pate, 2019. "Childcare Center Characteristics Moderate the Effects of a Physical Activity Intervention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Monika Szpunar & Molly Driediger & Andrew M. Johnson & Leigh M. Vanderloo & Shauna M. Burke & Jennifer D. Irwin & Jacob Shelley & Brian W. Timmons & Patricia Tucker, 2021. "Impact of the Childcare Physical Activity (PLAY) Policy on Young Children’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Time: A Pilot Clustered Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.
    8. Patricia Tucker & Molly Driediger & Leigh M. Vanderloo & Shauna M. Burke & Jennifer D. Irwin & Andrew M. Johnson & Jacob Shelley & Brian W. Timmons, 2019. "Exploring the Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Childcare PhysicaL ActivitY (PLAY) Policy: Rationale and Protocol for a Pilot, Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-15, November.
    9. Clover Maitland & Leanne Lester & Stewart G. Trost & Michael Rosenberg & Jasper Schipperijn & Georgina Trapp & Pulan Bai & Hayley Christian, 2020. "The Influence of the Early Childhood Education and Care Environment on Young Children’s Physical Activity: Development and Reliability of the PLAYCE Study Environmental Audit and Educator Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-10, April.
    10. Suvi Määttä & Hanna Konttinen & Reetta Lehto & Ari Haukkala & Maijaliisa Erkkola & Eva Roos, 2018. "Preschool Environmental Factors, Parental Socioeconomic Status, and Children’s Sedentary Time: An Examination of Cross-Level Interactions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-19, December.
    11. Rachel A. Jones & Eduarda Sousa-Sá & Michele Peden & Anthony D. Okely, 2019. "Childcare Physical Activity Interventions: A Discussion of Similarities and Differences and Trends, Issues, and Recommendations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-13, December.
    12. Leigh M. Vanderloo & Patricia Tucker, 2015. "Weekly Trends in Preschoolers’ Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Childcare," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-11, February.
    13. Molly Driediger & Stephanie Truelove & Andrew M. Johnson & Leigh M. Vanderloo & Brian W. Timmons & Shauna M. Burke & Jennifer D. Irwin & Patricia Tucker, 2019. "The Impact of Shorter, More Frequent Outdoor Play Periods on Preschoolers’ Physical Activity during Childcare: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-14, October.

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