Child physical activity levels and associations with modifiable characteristics in centre‐based childcare
Abstract Objective: To describe children's physical activity levels during childcare and associations with modifiable characteristics. Methods: A cross‐sectional study of 328 preschool children (43% girls; age 3–5 years) and 145 staff from 20 long day care centres in the Hunter Region of NSW, A...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2015-06-01
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| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12314 |
| _version_ | 1797726922922262528 |
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| author | A. Colin Bell Meghan Finch Luke Wolfenden Michael Fitzgerald Philip J. Morgan Jannah Jones Megan Freund John Wiggers |
| author_facet | A. Colin Bell Meghan Finch Luke Wolfenden Michael Fitzgerald Philip J. Morgan Jannah Jones Megan Freund John Wiggers |
| author_sort | A. Colin Bell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective: To describe children's physical activity levels during childcare and associations with modifiable characteristics. Methods: A cross‐sectional study of 328 preschool children (43% girls; age 3–5 years) and 145 staff from 20 long day care centres in the Hunter Region of NSW, Australia. Pedometers assessed child physical activity levels. Centre characteristics and staff attitudes and behaviours towards children's physical activity were assessed using surveys, interviews and observational audit. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression. Results: Over the measurement period, average step count of children was 15.8 (SD=6.8) steps/minute. Four‐year‐olds had the highest step counts (16.4, SD=7.1, p=0.03) with no differences by sex. Step counts were significantly higher in centres that had a written physical activity policy (+3.8 steps/minute, p=0.03) and where staff led structured physical activity (+3.7 steps/minute, p<0.001) and joined in active play (+2.9 steps/minute, p=0.06). Conclusions: Written physical activity policy, structured staff‐led physical activity and staff joining in active play were associated with higher levels of physical activity. Implications: Childcare physical activity interventions should consider including strategies to encourage written physical activity policies and support structured staff led physical activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:52:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5118d079f5794893ab69ccec342a0786 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:52:25Z |
| publishDate | 2015-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-5118d079f5794893ab69ccec342a07862023-09-02T06:47:49ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052015-06-0139323223610.1111/1753-6405.12314Child physical activity levels and associations with modifiable characteristics in centre‐based childcareA. Colin Bell0Meghan Finch1Luke Wolfenden2Michael Fitzgerald3Philip J. Morgan4Jannah Jones5Megan Freund6John Wiggers7School of Medicine and Public Health University of Newcastle New South WalesSchool of Medicine and Public Health University of Newcastle New South WalesSchool of Medicine and Public Health University of Newcastle New South WalesSchool of Medicine and Public Health University of Newcastle New South WalesSchool of Education Priority Research Centre in Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle New South WalesHunter New England Population Health New South WalesSchool of Medicine and Public Health University of Newcastle New South WalesSchool of Medicine and Public Health University of Newcastle New South WalesAbstract Objective: To describe children's physical activity levels during childcare and associations with modifiable characteristics. Methods: A cross‐sectional study of 328 preschool children (43% girls; age 3–5 years) and 145 staff from 20 long day care centres in the Hunter Region of NSW, Australia. Pedometers assessed child physical activity levels. Centre characteristics and staff attitudes and behaviours towards children's physical activity were assessed using surveys, interviews and observational audit. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression. Results: Over the measurement period, average step count of children was 15.8 (SD=6.8) steps/minute. Four‐year‐olds had the highest step counts (16.4, SD=7.1, p=0.03) with no differences by sex. Step counts were significantly higher in centres that had a written physical activity policy (+3.8 steps/minute, p=0.03) and where staff led structured physical activity (+3.7 steps/minute, p<0.001) and joined in active play (+2.9 steps/minute, p=0.06). Conclusions: Written physical activity policy, structured staff‐led physical activity and staff joining in active play were associated with higher levels of physical activity. Implications: Childcare physical activity interventions should consider including strategies to encourage written physical activity policies and support structured staff led physical activities.https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12314preschool childrenpedometerobservationphysical activitychildcare |
| spellingShingle | A. Colin Bell Meghan Finch Luke Wolfenden Michael Fitzgerald Philip J. Morgan Jannah Jones Megan Freund John Wiggers Child physical activity levels and associations with modifiable characteristics in centre‐based childcare Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health preschool children pedometer observation physical activity childcare |
| title | Child physical activity levels and associations with modifiable characteristics in centre‐based childcare |
| title_full | Child physical activity levels and associations with modifiable characteristics in centre‐based childcare |
| title_fullStr | Child physical activity levels and associations with modifiable characteristics in centre‐based childcare |
| title_full_unstemmed | Child physical activity levels and associations with modifiable characteristics in centre‐based childcare |
| title_short | Child physical activity levels and associations with modifiable characteristics in centre‐based childcare |
| title_sort | child physical activity levels and associations with modifiable characteristics in centre based childcare |
| topic | preschool children pedometer observation physical activity childcare |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12314 |
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