RESEARCH ARTICLE Associations between obje

Full list of author information is available at the end of the articleBackground Physical activity (PA) is associated with improved physical and psychological health outcomes [1]. Physical activity levels track from childhood into adulthood [2,3]. A number of studies have reported that large proportions of children do not meet the national guideline of an hour per day of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) [4,5]. PA levels decline with age [6] with the start of primary school being a key transition period [7]. Finding ways to enhance PA at the start of primary school is an important public health target. Parents are likely to influence children’s PA and could have an important role in increasing their child’s PA [8-10]. Parental influence could be exerted in one of three ways: 1) parent is active with child; 2) parent is active (not necessarily with child) and models active behaviour; and 3) parent facilitates PA for their child [10-12]. There is