Canadian Preschool Research Articles

An Observational Study of Print Literacy in Canadian Preschool Classrooms

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of print literacy in preschool classrooms. There were seven preschool teachers working in central Canada who were observed over three sessions. The process of analytic induction was used to formulate categories based on interviews, classroom observations and documents. The following categories were identified from the data: book engagement and availability, writing engagement, and print displays and materials. There were some consistencies across centres in the availability of print materials; however, variation often existed in the types of interactions with print. For example, in some preschool classrooms, teachers had a more structured approach toward writing development while in others, they did not. Such differences in practice may be attributed to different beliefs and knowledge of early literacy development. The results of this study offer insight on the role of print literacy in preschool classrooms.

‘we got our heads together and came up with a plan’

This study investigated young children’s perceptions of their role in curriculum development in one Canadian preschool. There is no consensus that children have a role to play in developing curriculum. However, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) confirms children’s right to be listened to about all aspects of their lives. Based on interviews with 34 children and three teachers, this study demonstrates the children feel they play an active role in curriculum development and implementation, but teachers make the final decisions about curriculum content. The children expressed a desire to influence the curriculum in new ways, but their ability to do so may be constrained by structural factors within and beyond the preschool.

Obesity in a provincial population of Canadian preschool children: Differences between 1984 and 1997 birth cohorts

To determine whether trends of increasing overweight and obesity reported for older children and adults are evident in Canadian preschoolers. A sample of 3857 preschool-aged children (51.1% boys) in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, born in 1984 and measured in 1987-1989, was selected from government archival records. The sample of 4161 children (50.1% boys), born in 1997 and measured in 2000-2002, was obtained from regional health authority records. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using heights and weights measured by nurses. Overweight and obesity prevalence was estimated according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) methods. Combined rates of overweight and obesity were significantly higher in preschoolers born in 1997 (25.6% IOTF and 36.0% CDC) than in 1984 (16.9% IOTF and 25.1% CDC), when levels were already high. There were some differences between sexes and classification systems. The relatively rapid rise in overweight and obesity in children as young as 3.5 years, in little more than a decade, underscores the immediate need for monitoring, and implementation of effective interventions. Overweight and obesity in preschool children is not new, but has become increasingly prevalent, and requires population-based strategies.

N−6 Docosapentaenoic acid is not a predictor of low docosahexaenoic acid status in Canadian preschool children

The n-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) is important for neural and visual functional development. In animals, 22:6n-3 deficiency is accompanied by increased docosapentaenoic acid (DPA; 22:5n-6), which suggests that the ratio of 22:6n-3 to 22:5n-6 could be a useful biochemical marker of low n-3 fatty acid status. The n-3 fatty acid status of preschool children has not been described, and data are lacking on whether low 22:6n-3 is accompanied by high 22:5n-6 in humans. We determined n-3 fatty acid status and investigated the relation between 22:6n-3 and 22:5n-6 in children. In Canadian children aged 18-60 mo (n = 84), the n-3 and n-6 fatty acid status of erythrocyte phosphatidylethanolamine was measured, and dietary fat intake was estimated by using a food-frequency questionnaire. The mean (+/- SEM) 22:6n-3 concentration in erythrocyte phosphatidylethanolamine among children was 3.06 +/- 0.13 g/100 g fatty acids (5th-95th percentiles: 1.43-5.79 g/100 g fatty acids). Concentrations of 22:5n-6 increased with increasing 22:6n-3 concentrations in erythrocyte phosphatidylethanolamine (P < 0.01). Mean intakes of linoleic acid (18:2n-6), linolenic acid (18:3n-3), and trans fatty acids were 3.6 +/- 0.2%, 0.7 +/- 0.5%, and 2.0 +/- 1.3%, respectively. Phosphatidylethanolamine 22:6n-3 and 22:5n-3 concentrations were inversely related to the intakes of 18:2n-6 and trans fatty acids, but not to those of total fat or n-3 fatty acids. The concentration of 22:5n-6 is not a useful biochemical marker of low n-3 fatty acid intake or status in the membrane phosphatidylethanolamine of preschool children. High intakes of 18:2n-6 and trans fatty acids could compromise the incorporation of 22:6n-3 into membrane phospholipids.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in a provincial population of Canadian preschool children.

More and more school-aged children in Canada and elsewhere are becoming overweight or obese. Many countries are now reporting a similar trend among preschool children. However, little information is available on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among preschool children in Canada. In addition, available data are based on reported rather than measured heights and weights. We conducted this study to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity, using measured heights and weights, in the 1997 cohort of children aged 3-5 years born in Newfoundland and Labrador. We calculated the body mass indices (BMIs) using heights and weights measured by public health nurses during the province-wide Preschool Health Check Program conducted between October 2000 and January 2003. Descriptive data on the children's BMIs and prevalence estimates were generated and analyzed by sex and age with the use of the classification system recommended by the International Obesity Task Force. Data were available for 4161 of the 5428 children born in 1997; boys and girls were equally represented (50.1% and 49.9% respectively). Overall, 25.6% of the preschool children in the cohort were overweight or obese. The rates did not differ significantly by sex or age group. These results indicate that a high proportion of children aged 3-5 years in Newfoundland and Labrador are overweight or obese. It appears that prevention measures should begin before the age of 3 years.

Children at risk of injury

This study examined the relationships between two groups of Canadian preschool children (injured and noninjured) and their parents’ risk perceptions, safety behaviors, parenting stress, and children’s risk behaviors. Data analysis revealed significantly higher numbers of injury behaviors in the group of injured children ( t = −2.46, p = .015). Contrary to the investigators’ hypothesis, parents’ perceptions of risk and hazard were not found to be significantly less among those parents of injured children. However, the parents of injured children had a higher score for perceived dangers for their children ( t = −2.38, p = .01) and less parent stress ( t = 3.38, p = .001).

The pattern of astigmatism in a Canadian preschool population.

To measure magnitude, type, and central tendency of astigmatism found in a county-wide population of Canadian preschool children (mean age, 48.1 months). Noncycloplegic autorefractive measures were taken in 1179 children attending a preschool health fair operated by their county board of health. Spherocylinder measures were transformed into three independent components. The equivalent sphere showed considerable variation between retinoscopy and autorefraction that was attributed to the variable overaccommodation induced by the autorefractor. Astigmatic components were not affected. Small discrepancies between the two techniques were similar to those in adults and were not of sufficient magnitude to affect validity. With-the-rule (WTR) astigmatism of at least 0.25 D was the most frequent form (45%) followed by against-the-rule (ATR; 40%) and oblique (15%). The 95th percentile for cylinder magnitude was found at 1.25 D. Astigmatisms beyond this value were predominately WTR. The mean (negative) cylinder magnitude was 0.08 Dx 015 degrees. When spherocylinder values are transformed into a mathematical continuum rather than WTR and ATR classifications, the true central tendency of the population is better defined and is close to zero. Astigmatisms of more than 1.25 D in the preschool child exceed the 95th percentile in this population and were more frequently WTR.

Parent participation in children’ school readiness: The effects of parental self-efficacy, cultural diversity and teacher strategies

Many early intervention programs have been shaped by the notion that children’s development should be studied in the contexts of family and community. Reciprocal parent-child interaction is a key feature of child development in those contexts. Parent involvement, parental self-efficacy and parenting style are factors that influence parent-child interactions and contribute to early development, the transition to school, and future child outcomes. This study examined parent factors and teacher strategies to foster parent involvement and efficacy in a unique Canadian preschool intervention program in the Greater Toronto area. ESL (n=64) and English-speaking (n=59) parent groups, who participated in schoo-based Parenting and Readiness Center programs with their 4-year olds, were compared on goals for participation, parenting style, feelings of self-efficacy as a result of program participation and on their perceptions of teachers as model. Overall findings suggest that parents who perceive themselves as more effective are more involved in their children’s education at the pre-school level. Teacher strategies are described as a key feature in facilitating parent involvement and parental self-efficacy.

Antibiotic prescribing for Canadian preschool children: evidence of overprescribing for viral respiratory infections.

Antibiotic resistance is associated with prior receipt of antibiotics. An analysis of linked computerized databases for physician visits and antibiotic prescriptions was used to examine antibiotic prescribing for different respiratory infections in preschool children in Canada. In 1995, 64% of 61,165 children aged <5 years made 140,892 visits (mean, 3.6 visits per child) for respiratory infections; 74% of children who made visits received antibiotic prescriptions. Antibiotics were prescribed to 49% of children with upper respiratory tract infection, 18% with nasopharyngitis, 78% with pharyngitis or tonsillitis, 32% with serous otitis media, 80% with acute otitis media, 61% with sinusitis, 44% with acute laryngitis or tracheitis, and 24% with influenza. Acute otitis media accounted for 33% of all visits and 39% of all antibiotic prescriptions. The estimated Canadian-dollar cost of overprescribing was $423,693, or 49% of the total cost of antibiotics ($859,893) used in this group. This population-based study confirms antibiotic overprescribing in Canada.

Factors related to plaque distribution in a group of Canadian preschool children

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that were related to plaque distribution in a group of preschool children. 153 children aged 3-5 years from seven randomly-selected preschool programmes in Saskatoon, Canada, were examined for plaque (Silness & Loe, 1964) and for dental caries (WHO, 1987). The subjects were divided into three groups according to age: 3, 4 and 5 years old. Plaque was assessed on the buccal and lingual surfaces of all teeth. The examinations were conducted in the morning or afternoon. No prior oral hygiene instructions were given to the children or parents. Teachers, however, were informed when the examinations would take place. The mean total plaque score was 0.51. There was no significant difference between the plaque scores for the different age groups. Total plaque score was significantly related to dft and dfs scores (P < 0.05). The mean dft was 0.68 and mean dfs was 1.18, and 80.4% of the subjects were caries-free and had no restored teeth or surfaces. There was significantly more plaque on posterior teeth than on anterior teeth (P < 0.0001), and on buccal surfaces than on lingual surfaces (P < 0.001) in both mandibular and maxillary arches. Significant differences in plaque distribution were also found between subjects examined in the morning or the afternoon.

Contribution of tap water to mineral intakes of Canadian preschool children.

Tap water consumption was estimated from 3 day weighed dietary records in 102 Canadian preschool children (4-5 yr of age; 58 males, 44 females). Cold tap water samples were also collected from each child's household (64 hard water households, 38 soft water households) and analyzed for calcium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, copper, and sodium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Median consumption of tap water consumed alone and tapwater alone plus that used in beverages (ml per day) was 36.5 (range 0-791) and 171.5 (range 0-1036), respectively. Average intakes of macrominerals for males (M) and females (F) from all sources of hard tap water were (mg/day): calcium (M) 16.5, (F) 13.2; magnesium (M) 6.6, (F) 4.5; and sodium (M) 2.3, (F) 2.3. Average intakes of macrominerals from soft water are as follows: calcium (M) 0.1, (F) 0.1; magnesium (M) 0, (F) 0; and sodium (M) 31.0, (F) 24.4. Trace element intakes from tap water were negligible. Hard tap water provided less than 8% of the Canadian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for magnesium, less than 3% for calcium, and less than 1% for zinc. Mineral contributions of soft tap water to the RNIs were less than 2%.

Food consumption patterns of Canadian preschool children in relation to zinc and growth status

Hair and serum zinc and copper, growth percentiles, and dietary intakes, based on 3-day weighed food records, were determined for 106 Canadian preschool children (62 M, 44 F) aged 4-5 yr. Mean (+/- SD) hair zinc levels were (M) 103 +/- 35 micrograms/g vs (F) 129 +/- 34 micrograms/g, p less than 0.001, and median hair copper level was 12.4 micrograms/g (M + F). Mean serum zinc and copper were 111 +/- 13 micrograms/dL (M + F) and 122 +/- 21 micrograms/dL (M + F), respectively. Males with low hair zinc (less than 70 micrograms/g) had a lower mean height-for-age percentile (42 +/- 29 vs 58 +/- 25%, p less than 0.05), even when adjusted for midparent height. Males with hair zinc less than 70 micrograms/g and/or height-for-age less than 15% consumed less meat, poultry, and fish and received similar average zinc intakes but higher calcium intakes than males with hair zinc greater than or equal to 70 micrograms/g and/or height-for-age greater than or equal to 15%. Suboptimal zinc nutriture was associated with lower intakes of readily available zinc from flesh foods and higher intakes of calcium.

Canadian Public Television and Preschool Children: Predictors of Viewers and Nonviewers

A socialization model of public television viewing among Canadian preschoolers is proposed and analyzed using discriminant and multiple classification analyses. Of the five sets of variables analyzed, the family's media environment (primarily access to cable television and print media use) and the parent's attitude toward television in general were the strongest predictors of both the viewing and frequency of viewing public television programs by preschool age children in the home.

Changes in the social competence of Canadian preschool and day nursery children of low and high socioeconomic status

Changes in the social competence of Canadian preschool and day nursery children of low and high socioeconomic status