Abstract
Children’s physical activity levels have decreased significantly over the past 20 - 30 years, coinciding with obesity rates reaching epidemic levels. There is little research into typically developing preschool (birth to 5 year-olds) children’s physical activity, with the majority of research focusing on children at risk of motor skill or neurological deficiencies. This review examines current research into young children’s development, especially motor development and physical activity, the effectiveness of intervention programmes for promoting children’s physical development and the various methods used to assess physical development. A decrease in children’s physical activity levels has coincided with an increase in obesity rates. Further research is needed to determine culturally and contextually appropriate and effective interventions for preschool children. Areas for further research include preschool children’s physical activity, particularly in regards to movement guidelines and requirements for this age-group and ways to overcome potential barriers to meeting physical activity requirements. Young children’s physical activity and motor skill proficiency may be an important predictor of later-life physically active behaviors. Physical literacy and physical activity interventions within early childhood education could potentially support academic skills as well as physical skills and behaviors.
Highlights
IntroductionThis has led to an increase in the importance of health promotion and physical activity related research for preschool children (Gunner et al, 2005; Timmons et al, 2007; Robinson et al, 2015)
This review examines current research into young children’s development, especially motor development and physical activity, the effectiveness of intervention programmes for promoting children’s physical development and the various methods used to assess physical development
The aim of this review is to identify key issues related to physical activity and motor skill development in preschool children
Summary
This has led to an increase in the importance of health promotion and physical activity related research for preschool children (Gunner et al, 2005; Timmons et al, 2007; Robinson et al, 2015). Physical activity is associated with improving children’s motor skill proficiency (Barnett et al, 2008; Sääkslahti et al, 2004) and, when they grow to adolescence, young children with better motor skill proficiency have 10% - 20% higher chance of participating in vigorous physical activity (Barnett et al, 2009), enhanced cardiovascular fitness (Barnett et al, 2008a) and greater perceived sports competence (Barnett et al, 2008b) These factors all contribute to an increased likelihood of long-term participation in sport and exercise. Children living in socioeconomically deprived areas are more likely to engage in sedentary behaviors, such as watching two or more hours of television each day, and are more likely to be obese (NZ Ministry of Health, 2014)
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