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Fewer than 1 successful 4 children aged 2 to 4 meet nan recommended regular beingness activity levels, a caller study has found. Additionally, while children are overmuch much progressive connected days erstwhile they be early years settings, astir preschoolers are not gathering nan recommended activity levels wrong early years settings aliases astatine home.
The University of Bristol-led investigation analysed information from 419 preschool-aged children (49.6% boys) attending early years providers successful 4 different section authorities successful England (Somerset, Swindon, and Sandwell) and Scotland (Arran and Ayrshire). This is nan first accelerometer-based comparison of beingness activity successful preschoolers crossed days spent wrong early years settings and days spent extracurricular of nan setting.
Using activity belts (accelerometers), nan National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)-funded study examined really children's beingness activity levels varied betwixt weekdays and weekends.
The study, carried retired successful collaboration pinch nan universities of Birmingham, Glasgow and Cardiff, is published successful nan Journal of Physical Activity and Health today [24 November].
The researchers assessed nan children's activity patterns for a week erstwhile they were successful early years settings and extracurricular of settings.
Key findings include:
- Children aged 2 to 4 were importantly much progressive (on mean 15 minutes) connected days erstwhile they attended early years settings.
- Less than a 4th (23%) of preschoolers met nan World Health Organisation (WHO) activity guidelines of 180 minutes of regular beingness activity, and conscionable 2.4% achieved nan target of 60 minutes of mean to vigorous beingness activity.
- 8% much boys met nan activity guidelines.
- Girls were importantly little apt to meet these guidelines than boys, while older children were much apt to meet nan targets.
- Outside of early years settings, nan slightest deprived children were much progressive than nan astir deprived. Whereas, erstwhile children were successful early years settings activity levels were similar.
- Early years settings play an important domiciled successful providing opportunities to beryllium much progressive and reducing inequalities.
Dr. Kim Hannam, Research Fellow successful nan Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences (PHS), and elder writer connected nan study, said: "These findings item a captious spread successful beingness activity among preschoolers.
"While early years settings supply a much progressive environment, astir children are still not achieving nan activity levels needed for patient maturation and development.
"Our study highlights nan request for coordinated strategies betwixt policymakers, educators, and families to support early puerility beingness activity."
Low levels of beingness activity successful early puerility tin effect connected children's patient improvement and summation nan consequence of a scope of chronic conditions successful later life.
"Early years settings play an important domiciled successful promoting beingness activity and reducing inequalities, particularly arsenic government-funded childcare expands. However, nan debased proportionality of children gathering activity guidelines highlights nan request for continued finance and investigation to support patient improvement successful nan early years."
Ruth Kipping, Professor of Public Health successful nan Bristol Medical School: PHS
The researchers propose that interventions to summation activity levels should attraction connected some Early Years settings and location environments. Strengthened nationalist policy, parental engagement, and play-friendly environments could thief guarantee young children build nan foundations for lifelong health.
Source:
Journal reference:
Maishman, R. L., et al. (2025) Accelerometer measured beingness activity successful UK early puerility acquisition and attraction settings: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/accelerometer-measured-physical-activity-in-uk-early-childhood-ed/
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