Associations for preschool environmental quality with outdoor time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in Norwegian preschools

Ada Kristine Ofrim Nilsen,Einar Ylvisåker,Eivind Aadland,Elisabeth Bjørnestad,Kjersti Johannessen,Lillian Pedersen,Mari Engeseter,Merete Nornes-Nymark

doi:10.23865/jased.v4.2485

Abstract

Various aspects of the preschool environment may either promote or restrict children’s moderate- to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), for example through opportunities for outdoor play. The aim of the present study was to determine associations for preschool environmental quality with outdoor time and MVPA in preschoolers. In total, 358 Norwegian 2–6-year-old children had 1–3 valid 14-day periods of accelerometer-determined MVPA (ActiGraph GT3X+) and corresponding logs of preschool outdoor time collected during 2015–2016. The children were enrolled in 30 different preschool departments for which we assessed environmental quality using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised (ECERS-R). Associations for preschool quality with outdoor time and MVPA were determined using multivariate pattern analysis. We found strong inverse associations between preschool quality and outdoor time (51.4 % explained variance), and weak inverse associations between preschool quality and MVPA (5.4 % explained variance). Associations were strongest for the “Space and Furnishings”, “Personal Care Routines”, “Language-Reasoning”, and “Interaction” subscales of ECERS-R, in particular for aspects of safety practices. Children enrolled in departments rated as high quality spent less time outdoors and less time in MVPA. Thus, recognized quality aspects of preschool environments, in particular safety practices, might restrict children’s movement opportunities.

Highlights

Physical activity (PA) is important for health and development during early childhood and across the life span (Ahn & Fedewa, 2011; Andersen et al, 2006; Carson et al, 2017; Timmons et al, 2012)
The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between outdoor time and objectively measured moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and preschool environmental quality assessed by the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised (ECERS-R) in Norwegian preschools
Study design and recruitment of participants The Sogn og Fjordane Preschool Physical Activity Study (PRESPAS) is a large populationbased cross-sectional study conducted in the county of Sogn og Fjordane in Western Norway (Nilsen et al, 2019)

Summary

Introduction

Physical activity (PA) is important for health and development during early childhood and across the life span (Ahn & Fedewa, 2011; Andersen et al, 2006; Carson et al, 2017; Timmons et al, 2012). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children engage in >60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) every day (WHO, 2019), which is the recommended level in the Nordic countries, including Norway (Tetens et al, 2012). This activity should be varied and developmentally appropriate to promote enjoyment and engagement among children. Nilsen et al (2019) found that children accumulated 77 % of their MVPA on weekdays during preschool hours This finding, in addition to high preschool attendance rates in Norway (97 %) (SN, 2017) and most European countries (European Commission, 2009), place preschools as crucial arenas for promotion of PA

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