Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Short-Term Influence of Revised Provincial Accreditation Standards on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Weight Status in Alberta, Canada Child Care Centers

  • Published:
Early Childhood Education Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In December, 2013, revised Alberta child care accreditation standards were released by the Alberta Government in Canada that included a new standard for physical activity and sedentary behavior in accredited child care settings. The main purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the new accreditation standard in increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in a sample of children in Alberta, Canada attending child care. This pre-post design study is based on 86 children aged 19–60 months from across Alberta, Canada. Levels of physical activity [light (LPA) and moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA)] and sedentary time during child care were accelerometer-derived at baseline (October/November, 2013) and follow-up after a new accreditation standard was implemented (May/June, 2014). Age- and sex-specific BMI z-scores at baseline and follow-up were also calculated. Changes in physical activity and sedentary behavior were moderated by age group (toddler: 19–35 months and preschoolers: 36–60 months). Over an average 6.5 month period, a small decrease in sedentary time (3.1 min/h, P < 0.05) and a moderate increase in MVPA (1.7 min/h, P < 0.05) were observed among toddlers along with a moderate decrease in BMI z-score (0.18 SD, P < 0.05). However, among preschoolers a small increase in sedentary time (1.9 min/h, P < 0.05) and a small decrease in LPA (1.9 min/h, P < 0.05) were observed. The new accreditation standard shows promise for toddlers. Future research with a control group that evaluates the process of implementing the new standard at each center is needed to confirm and expand on these findings of this study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adolph, A. L., Puyau, M. R., Vohra, F. A., Nicklas, T. A., Zakeri, I. F., & Butte, N. F. (2012). Validation of uniaxial and triaxial accelerometers for the assessment of physical activity in preschool children. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 9(7), 944–953.

    Google Scholar 

  • Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services. (2014). http://aelcs.ca/

  • Alberta Government. (2013). http://www.aelcs.ca/News/Documents/Aligned_Standards_WEB_1.2_Jun_23_14.pdf

  • Armitage, G., Bratt, D., Clark, D., Danelesko, E., & LeSueur, J. (2012). Developing policy to get children moving: Policy development to advance physical literacy and physical activity in Alberta child care settings—final report. Calgary, AB: Mount Royal University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biddle, S. J., Pearson, N., Ross, G. M., & Braithwaite, R. (2010). Tracking of sedentary behaviours of young people: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine, 51(5), 345–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bushnik, T. (2006). Child care in Canada. Catalogue No. 89-599-MIE-No. 003. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada.

  • Carson, V., Spence, J. C., Cutumisu, N., Boule, N., & Edwards, J. (2010). Seasonal variation in physical activity among preschool children in a northern Canadian city. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 81(4), 392–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colley, R. C., Garriguet, D., Adamo, K. B., Carson, V., Janssen, I., Timmons, B. W., & Tremblay, M. S. (2013). Physical activity and sedentary behavior during the early years in Canada: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10, 54–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Environment Canada. (2014). National climate data and information archive. http://climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climateData/canada_e.html

  • Guy, J., Rogers, M., & Cornish, K. (2013). Age-related changes in visual and auditory sustained attention in preschool-aged children. Child Neuropsychology, 19(6), 601–614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagelthorn, K. M., Hiemenz, J. R., Pillion, J. P., & Mahone, E. M. (2003). Age and task parameters in continuous performance tests for preschoolers. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 96(3 Pt 1), 975–989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine (IOM). (2011). Early childhood obesity prevention policies. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janz, K. F., Burns, T. L., & Levy, S. M. (2005). Tracking of activity and sedentary behaviors in childhood: The Iowa Bone Development Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 29(3), 171–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LeBlanc, A. G., Spence, J. C., Carson, V., Connor Gorber, S., Dillman, C., Janssen, I., & Tremblay, M. S. (2012). Systematic review of sedentary behaviour and health indicators in the early years (aged 0–4 years). Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 37(4), 753–772.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, K. J. (2005). The “production” of child care: How labor markets shape social policy and vice versa. Social Politics, 12, 246–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pate, R. R., Baranowski, T., Dowda, M., & Trost, S. G. (1996). Tracking of physical activity in young children. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 28(1), 92–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pate, R. R., O’Neill, J. R., Brown, W. H., McIver, K. L., Howie, E. K., & Dowda, M. (2013). Top 10 research questions related to physical activity in preschool children. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 84(4), 448–455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pate, R. R., Pfeiffer, K. A., Trost, S. G., Ziegler, P., & Dowda, M. (2004). Physical activity among children attending preschools. Pediatrics, 114(5), 1258–1263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PEI Healthy Eating Alliance. (2012). Healthy living guidelines for the early learning and child care centres in PEI. http://healthyeatingpei.ca/pre-school.php

  • Reilly, J. J. (2010). Low levels of objectively measured physical activity in preschoolers in child care. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 42(3), 502–507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shields, M. (2006). Overweight and obesity among children and youth. Health Report, 17(3), 27–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Telama, R., Yang, X., Viikari, J., Valimaki, I., Wanne, O., & Raitakari, O. (2005). Physical activity from childhood to adulthood: A 21-year tracking study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 28(3), 267–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The Alberta Resource Centre for Quality Enhancement. (2014). http://arcqe.ca/

  • Timmons, B. W., Leblanc, A. G., Carson, V., Connor Gorber, S., Dillman, C., Janssen, I., & Tremblay, M. S. (2012). Systematic review of physical activity and health in the early years (aged 0–4 years). Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 37(4), 773–792.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tremblay, M. S., Leblanc, A. G., Carson, V., Choquette, L., Connor Gorber, S., Dillman, C., & Spence, J. C. (2012a). Canadian sedentary behaviour guidelines for the early years (aged 0–4 years). Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 37(2), 370–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tremblay, M. S., Leblanc, A. G., Carson, V., Choquette, L., Connor Gorber, S., Dillman, C., & Timmons, B. W. (2012b). Canadian physical activity guidelines for the early years (aged 0–4 years). Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 37(2), 345–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trost, S. G., Loprinzi, P. D., Moore, R., & Pfeiffer, K. A. (2011). Comparison of accelerometer cut points for predicting activity intensity in youth. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 43(7), 1360–1368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trost, S. G., Sirard, J. R., Dowda, M., Pfeiffer, K. A., & Pate, R. R. (2003). Physical activity in overweight and nonoverweight preschool children. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 27(7), 834–839.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanderloo, L. M., Tucker, P., Ismail, A., & van Zandvroort, M. M. (2012). Physical activity opportunities in Canadian childcare facilities: A provincial/territorial review of legislation. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 9(4), 461–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welk, G. J., Corbin, C. B., & Dale, D. (2000). Measurement issues in the assessment of physical activity in children. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 71(2 Suppl), S59–s73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group. (2006). WHO child growth standards based on length/height, weight and age. Acta Paediatrica, 450, 76–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2009). Early childhood fact sheet. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs332/en/index.html

  • World Health Organization. (2012). Obesity and overweight fact sheet. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all the children, parents, and child care centers who took part in the study. The authors would like to thank their partners Corine Ferguson from the Alberta Resource Centre for Quality Enhancement and Karen Baretta from the Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services for their help with recruitment. The authors would also like to thank Alannah Turcott, Kristen Duke, Jayanie Soroka, Amanda Ledda, Morgan Wagner, Steven Ainsley, and Helena Lee for their help with data collection. This research was funded by the Alberta Center for Child, Family, and Community Research (ACCFCR). The sponsor had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Valerie Carson, Vicki Harber & Nicholas Kuzik

  2. Department of Child Studies and Social Work, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Dawne Clark

  3. Department of Psychology, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Nancy Ogden

Authors
  1. Valerie Carson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dawne Clark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nancy Ogden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Vicki Harber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nicholas Kuzik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Valerie Carson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Carson, V., Clark, D., Ogden, N. et al. Short-Term Influence of Revised Provincial Accreditation Standards on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Weight Status in Alberta, Canada Child Care Centers. Early Childhood Educ J 43, 459–465 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-015-0688-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-015-0688-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation