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Directly Observed Physical Activity among 3-Year-Olds in Finnish Childcare

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Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to determine 3-year-olds’ physical activity levels and how these vary across season, gender, time of day, location, and the physical and social environment in childcare settings in Finland. A modified version of the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Preschool (OSRAC-P) was used to measure physical activity levels and contextual variables (e.g., group composition, prompts) of children attending childcare centres. In total, 81 children (42 boys and 39 girls) were observed in autumn and in winter. Three-level linear regression analyses were used to assess differences between the seasons in the association between the context variables and physical activity. During the observations, the present sample of children was mostly sedentary in nature, engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity in only 2 % of all observations. The results further showed a significant difference between season and the children’s physical activity levels: in winter, the children spent significantly more time in sedentary-level activities and less time in moderate to vigorous physical activity than in autumn. The present sample of children was physically more active outdoors than indoors. Boys showed significantly higher physical activity levels than girls. The majority of the observations did not include any oral prompting. We conclude that childcare centres offer good opportunities to increase children’s physical activity. Interventions should focus on enhancing children’s outdoor time, free play, and positive prompting and encouragement by teachers.

Résumé

L’objectif principal de l’étude était de déterminer les niveaux d’activité physique chez les enfants de trois ans, et la façon dont ils varient selon la saison, le sexe, le moment de la journée, le lieu et l’environnement physique et social dans les garderies en Finlande. Une version modifiée de l’Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Preschool (OSRAC-P) a été utilisée pour mesurer les niveaux d’activité physique et les variables contextuelles (notamment, la composition du groupe, les incitations) des enfants fréquentant les garderies. Au total, 81 enfants (42 garçons et 39 filles) ont été observés en automne et en hiver. Des analyses de régression linéaire à trois niveaux ont servi à évaluer les différences entre les saisons en lien avec les variables contextuelles et activité physique. Au cours des observations, l’échantillon d’enfants était principalement de nature sédentaire avec une activité physique d’intensité modérée à élevée dans seulement 2 % de toutes les observations. Les résultats ont aussi révélé une différence significative entre la saison et les niveaux d’activité physique, en hiver les enfants passant sensiblement plus de temps dans des activités de niveau sédentaire et moins de temps dans des activités d’intensité modérée à élevée qu’en automne. L’échantillon d’enfants était physiquement plus actif à l’extérieur qu’à l’intérieur. Les garçons avaient des niveaux d’activité nettement plus élevés que les filles. La majorité des observations ne présentait aucune incitation verbale. Nous en concluons que les garderies offrent de bonnes possibilités pour augmenter l’activité physique des enfants. Les interventions devraient se concentrer sur l’augmentation du temps passé à l’extérieur, le jeu libre ainsi que l’incitation positive et l’encouragement des éducateurs.

Resumen

El objetivo principal del estudio fue determinar los niveles de actividad física (AF) y cómo estos varían en relación a la estación, al género, el momento del día y al ambiente físico y social de un centro de cuidado en Finlandia. Durante el día en la guardería, los niveles de actividad física y las variables contextuales (como la composición del grupo o incentivo) fueron determinados con un método de observación modificado de OSRAC-P (Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children - Preschool Version). En total 81 niños (42 niños, 39 niñas) participaron en las observaciones durante otoño e invierno. Análisis lineales de regresiones de tres niveles fueron utilizados para evaluar las diferencias entre las estaciones climáticas en relación con los contextos variables elegidos y la actividad física. Durante las observaciones, la muestra de niños fue, en su mayoría, naturalmente sedentaria, siendo semi-activa en solo un 2 % de todas las observaciones. Los resultados mostraron una diferencia significante entre estaciones climáticas y los niveles de actividad física de los niños: en invierno los niños pasaban la mayor parte del tiempo en actividades físicas de nivel sedentario y menos tiempo en actividades semi-activas que durante el otoño. Los niños y niñas que participaron en la investigación fueron físicamente más activos fuera que dentro de la guardería. La actividad física de los niños fue de nivel más alto que el la de las niñas. La mayoría de las observaciones no incluyeron un incentivo verbal. En base a los resultados podemos concluir que las guarderías ofrecen buenas oportunidades para aumentar la actividad física de los niños. Las intervenciones tendrían que centrarse en el aumento de actividades al aire libre, de juego espontáneo y de consejos positivos e incentivo por parte de los/las educadores/as preescolares.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education/Early Childhood Education, University of Jyväskylä, P.O.Box 35 (Viv), 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Anne Soini

  2. Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Jari Villberg, Anette Mehtälä, Tarja Kettunen & Marita Poskiparta

  3. Department of Sport Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Arja Sääkslahti

  4. Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Jessica Gubbels

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  1. Anne Soini
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  2. Jari Villberg
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  3. Arja Sääkslahti
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  4. Jessica Gubbels
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Correspondence to Anne Soini.

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Soini, A., Villberg, J., Sääkslahti, A. et al. Directly Observed Physical Activity among 3-Year-Olds in Finnish Childcare. IJEC 46, 253–269 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-014-0111-z

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