Preschool environment and preschool teachers physical activity and their association with childrens activity levels at preschool

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the association between preschool playground size, formalized physical activity (PA) policies, time spent outdoors and preschool teachers levels of PA and childrens objectively assessed levels of PA and sedentary time (ST) during preschool hours. Methods In total, 369 children and 84 preschool teachers from 27 preschools in Sodermalm municipally, Stockholm Sweden wore an Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer during 7 consecutive days. Preschool environmental and structural characteristics were measured via the Environment and Policy Evaluation Self-Report ( EPAO-SR) instrument and time in- and outdoors was recorded by preschool teachers during the PA measurements. Weight and height of children were measured via validated scales and parents filled out a questionnaire on demographical and descriptive variables. Linear mixed models, nested on preschool level, were used to assess the association between predictors and outcomes. Results The mean child age was 4.7 years (SD 0.8) and 45% were girls. We found that children were more active in preschools with a formalized PA policy, compared to preschools without such a policy, but not less sedentary. The association between policy and activity seemed to be more pronounced when accounting for other environmental factors. Similar associations were found in children spent most time outdoors (uppermost quartile) compared with children spent least time outdoors (Lowermost quartile). Preschool teachers light PA (LPA) (beta = 0.25, P = 0.004) and steps (beta = 0.52, P<0.001) were associated with childrens LPA and steps while the preschool playground size showed no association with PA in children, when accounting for other environmental factors. Conclusion The current study showed that preschool structural characteristics such as formalized PA policies and more time spent outdoors were positively associated with childrens PA. These findings suggest that formalized PA policies and time outdoors may be of importance for promoting childrens PA during preschool hours.Funding Agencies|Lindhes Advokatbyra; Sodermalm municipally