Abstract
Background: Establishing physical activity (PA) and motor behaviors in early childhood are important for developing healthy activity behaviors. Parents play a central role in shaping young children’s PA and fundamental motor skills (FMS). This qualitative study explored parents’ attributes, values, perceptions, and practices related to PA and FMS. Methods: Thirty-one parents (26 mothers) of preschool-aged children participated in semi-structured in-person interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed using an iterative approach. Results: Four themes related to PA and FMS emerged: (1) parent attributes; (2) parent–child interactions; (3) parent perception of children’s attributes; and (4) parenting practices. Although most parents enjoyed playing with their child, some did not realize the importance of engaging in PA with their child and even believed that FMS are naturally developed. Parents indicated that children’s temperament may influence their preference for practicing motor skills. Conclusions: Social support and positive parenting practices, including encouragement, monitoring, logistical support, co-participation, and facilitation, are important for the development of PA and FMS. The findings add emphasis to the importance of parents’ role in the development of young children’s PA and FMS, and they inform future strategies aiming to promote young children’s activity behaviors.
Highlights
Being physically active at a young age has been associated with numerous health benefits in early childhood and later life, and can lead to a healthy lifestyle for a lifetime [1].Importantly, activity behaviors are established in early childhood and can track over time [2]
Fundamental motor skills (FMS) are a critical aspect of early childhood development, as they are building blocks that lead to specialized movement sequences and sport skills [4]
Data were grouped into four themes related to the social context of young children’s physical activity (PA) and fundamental motor skills (FMS): (1) parent attributes, (2) parent–child interactions, (3) parent perception of children’s attributes and (4) parenting practices
Summary
Being physically active at a young age has been associated with numerous health benefits in early childhood and later life, and can lead to a healthy lifestyle for a lifetime [1].Importantly, activity behaviors are established in early childhood and can track over time [2]. Being physically active at a young age has been associated with numerous health benefits in early childhood and later life, and can lead to a healthy lifestyle for a lifetime [1]. Only about 50% of U.S preschool-aged children meet the daily physical activity (PA) recommendations [3], suggesting that this population is at higher risk of acquiring chronic diseases associated with an inactive lifestyle. Establishing physical activity (PA) and motor behaviors in early childhood are important for developing healthy activity behaviors. Parents play a central role in shaping young children’s PA and fundamental motor skills (FMS). This qualitative study explored parents’ attributes, values, perceptions, and practices related to PA and FMS. The findings add emphasis to the importance of parents’ role in the development of young children’s PA and FMS, and they inform future strategies aiming to promote young children’s activity behaviors
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