Abstract
Preschool students are generally sedentary at school, and few interventions have addressed whether teacher-led activities can increase physical activity at preschools. The current study aimed to increase physical activity in preschool children enrolled in childcare centers by training childcare providers to deliver a physical activity curriculum. A within-group pre-test/post-test design was used including 32 children at 4 preschools. A teacher-led physical activity curriculum, the Coordinated Approach to Child Health Early Childhood Education Curriculum (CEC) was implemented in each childcare center for six weeks. Activity levels of participants were monitored through the use of accelerometers and direct observation for approximately five hours pre- and post-intervention. Time spent in moderate/vigorous physical activity in preschoolers in three of the four preschools suggested a positive trend increasing from 34.5% ± 13.2% baseline to 39.3% ± 15.4% at follow-up (p = 0.10). Teachers from all four centers reported spending 24.6 ± 13.0 minutes per activity session with up to two activity sessions completed per day. These results justify larger trials to determine the impact of a teacher-led physical activity curriculum on the intensity and duration of preschool students’ physical activity at school.
Highlights
In 2007-2008 10.4% of 2 - 5 years olds were estimated to be obese and 10.8% overweight [1,2]
Recent studies have revealed that preschoolers typically spend a substantial amount of time (70% - 90% of their day) in sedentary behavior [14,15,16,17]. These findings suggest that the current level of PA that preschoolers engage in may not meet the recently published Institute of Medicine (IOM) preschool physical activity recommendations to prevent early childhood obesity, which suggest providing opportunities for light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity for at least 15 minutes per hour in childcare [18]
This study focused on the Childhood Education Curriculum (CEC) physical activity components aimed at increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) through classroom activities enhanced with play equipment, and stimulated by music and group games
Summary
In 2007-2008 10.4% of 2 - 5 years olds were estimated to be obese and 10.8% overweight [1,2]. Recent studies have revealed that preschoolers typically spend a substantial amount of time (70% - 90% of their day) in sedentary behavior [14,15,16,17]. These findings suggest that the current level of PA that preschoolers engage in may not meet the recently published Institute of Medicine (IOM) preschool physical activity recommendations to prevent early childhood obesity, which suggest providing opportunities for light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity for at least 15 minutes per hour in childcare [18]
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