Abstract
Physical activity (PA) engagement in Early Childcare and Education Centers (ECEC) supports preschoolers’ ability to meet the national physical activity guidelines. However, the influence of Head Start playground quality, as assessed by the Head Start Body Start Play Space Assessment (PSA), on Head Start preschoolers’ school day PA is under-researched. This study examined (1) the relationship between PSA quality scores and Head Start preschoolers’ school day PA engagement and (2) the association between PSA quality scores and the likelihood of preschoolers’ meeting the national PA guidelines during Head Start hours. Head Start preschoolers (N = 240, Mage = 3.9 years, 47% boys) from three centers participated in the study. Playground quality was assessed using the PSA, and preschoolers’ PA during Head Start was measured using wrist-worn GTX3 Actigraph accelerometers. Approximately, 77% of preschoolers in this sample achieved the recommended amount of PA per hour (15 min), over 90% accumulated 60 min of MVPA, and half surpassed 180 min of total PA during Head Start hours, and preschoolers’ PA engagement differed based on child sex and Head Start center attended. PSA playground quality scores were not significantly related to the amount or intensity of preschoolers’ PA engagement or the likelihood of meeting the national PA guidelines during Head Start. However, our findings revealed unique PA patterns among Head Start boys’ and girls’ PA that should be probed in the future studies using the PSA.
Résumé
Étudier si la qualité du terrain de jeu peut prédire le niveau initial d'activité physique des enfants d'âge préscolaire à l'école. La participation à l'activité physique (AP) dans les centres de garde et d'éducation de la petite enfance (ECEC) favorise la capacité des enfants d'âge préscolaire à respecter les directives nationales en matière d'AP. Cependant, la recherche sur l'influence de la qualité du terrain de jeu Head Start, évaluée par le Head Start Body Start Play Space Assessment (PSA), sur l'AP des enfants d'âge préscolaire dans le cadre du programme Head Start est limitée. Cette étude visait à investiguer deux aspects : (1) la relation entre les scores de qualité du PSA et l'AP des enfants d'âge préscolaire dans le cadre du programme Head Start, et (2) l'association entre les scores de qualité du PSA et la probabilité que les enfants respectent les directives nationales en matière d'AP pendant les heures de Head Start. Un total de 240 enfants d'âge préscolaire Head Start (âge moyen = 3,9 ans, 47 % de garçons) provenant de trois centres ont participé à cette étude. La qualité du terrain de jeu a été évaluée à l'aide du PSA, tandis que l'AP des enfants d'âge préscolaire pendant les heures de Head Start a été mesurée au moyen d'accéléromètres GTX3 Actigraph portés au poignet. Environ 77 % des enfants d'âge préscolaire de cet échantillon ont atteint la quantité recommandée d'AP par heure (15 minutes). De plus, plus de 90 % ont accumulé au moins 60 minutes d'AP modérée à vigoureuse, et la moitié d'entre eux ont dépassé 180 minutes d'AP totale pendant les heures de Head Start. Il a également été observé que l'AP des enfants d'âge préscolaire variait en fonction du sexe et de la fréquentation du centre Head Start. Les scores de qualité du terrain de jeu évalués par le PSA ne présentaient pas de lien significatif avec la quantité ou l'intensité de l'engagement en AP des enfants d'âge préscolaire, ni avec la probabilité de respecter les directives nationales concernant l'AP pendant les heures de Head Start. Cependant, nos résultats ont mis en lumière des modèles d'AP distincts chez les garçons participant à Head Start ainsi que chez les filles. Ces observations suggèrent des pistes de recherche à explorer dans de futures études utilisant le PSA.
Resumen
La participación en actividad física (AF) en los centros de educación infantil temprana (ECEC) apoya la capacidad de los niños de preescolar de cumplir con las pautas nacionales de actividad física. Sin embargo, la influencia de la calidad del parque infantil de Head Start, según lo evaluado por la Evaluación del espacio de Head Start Body Start Play Space Assessment (PSA), en la actividad física del día escolar de los niños de preescolar de Head Start no se ha investigado lo suficiente. Este estudio examinó (1) la relación entre los puntajes de calidad del PSA y la participación en la actividad física de los niños de preescolar de Head Start durante el día escolar y (2) la asociación entre los puntajes de calidad del PSA y la probabilidad de que los niños de preescolar cumplan con las pautas nacionales de AF durante el dia escolar de Head Start. En el estudio participaron niños en edad preescolar de Head Start (N = 240, Mage = 3,9 años, 47 % niños) de tres centros. La calidad del parque infantil se evaluó mediante el PSA, y la AF de los niños de preescolar durante el dia escolar de Head Start se midió utilizando dispositivos actigrafos GTX3. Aproximadamente el 77 % de los niños en edad preescolar de esta muestra alcanzaron la cantidad recomendada de AF por hora (15 min), más del 90 % acumuló 60 min de intensidad de ejercicio moderado a vigoroso (MVPA) y la mitad superó los 180 min de AF total durante el horario de Head Start, y la participación de los niños de preescolar en AF difirió según el sexo infantil y la asistencia al centro Head Start. Los puntajes de calidad del PSA en el parque infantil no se relacionaron significativamente con la cantidad o intensidad de la participación en la actividad física de los niños de preescolar ni con la probabilidad de cumplir con las pautas nacionales de actividad física durante el horario de Head Start. Sin embargo, nuestros hallazgos revelaron patrones únicos de AF entre los niños y niñas de Head Start que deberían investigarse en futuros estudios utilizando el PSA.
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Palmer, S.A., Stevens, Z., Palmer, K.K. et al. Exploring if Playground Quality Predicts Head Start Preschoolers’ School Day Physical Activity. IJEC (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-023-00388-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-023-00388-5