Associations between meeting the Canadian 24-hour movement guidelines and physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and overall development in early childhood

Does active participation in organised physical activity contribute to children's achievement of the 24-hour movement guidelines? findings from the family physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep (FAMIPASS) study

BACKGROUND

The development of child's lifestyle occurs within regular 24-hour movement patterns under the guidance of parents. Accelerometer-based monitoring allows for the capture of these 24-hour movement patterns of behaviour. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal whether active participation in organised physical activity (OPA) contributed to the achievement of the World Health Organization's (WHO) 24-hour movement behaviour guidelines (24-hMBGS) among 3-10-year-old children, considering the influence of parents' movement behaviour and families' material background.

METHODS

The 24-hour movement behaviour (24-hMB) of 348 child-parent pairs (with at least one parent) was continuously monitored for 7 days via ActiGraph accelerometers placed on the non-dominant wrist. Children's adherence to the WHO's 24-hMBGS was analysed using logistic regression analysis. The socioeconomic status (SES) of families was measured using the Family Affluence Scale. Body mass level was determined according to body mass index gender- and age-specific WHO reference data. Univariate analysis of variance/Pearson's chi-square test was used to test differences in sedentary behaviour duration/excess body weight between active participants and non-participants in OPA.

RESULTS

Active 3-10-year-old participants in OPA, compared to non-participants, were significantly more likely to meet at least two of the 24-hMBGS (77.7% vs. 66.4%, p = 0.008), had significantly shorter daily sedentary time (by 30 min per day, p = 0.001), and a significantly lower prevalence of excessive body weight (10.26% vs. 24.87% p < 0.001). Engaging in OPA significantly (p < 0.01) helped 3-10-year-old children achieve at least two of the 24-hMBGS, regardless of their gender, age, excess body weight, or family SES. In addition, a mother's non-excessive body weight and achievement of at least two of the WHO's 24-hMBGS significantly (p < 0.05) contributed to children attaining at least two of the WHO's 24-hMBGS.

CONCLUSIONS

Even in young children, active participation in OPA tend to contribute to a healthier lifestyle profile, characterised by shorter sedentary behaviour and lower excess body weight, with a significant influence from the mother's movement behaviour.

The Associations Between Parental-Reported and Device-Based Measured Outdoor Play and Health Indicators of Physical, Cognitive, and Social-Emotional Development in Preschool-Aged Children

PURPOSE

Examine in preschool-aged children: (1) the associations between parental-reported and device-measured outdoor play (OP) and health indicators of physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development and (2) whether associations were independent of outdoor moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 107 participants. Children's OP was measured via a parental questionnaire and the lux feature of accelerometers. Children's growth, adiposity, and motor skills were assessed as physical development indicators. Visual-spatial working memory, response inhibition, and expressive language were assessed as cognitive development indicators. Sociability, prosocial behavior, internalizing, externalizing, and self-regulation were assessed as social-emotional development indicators. Regression models were conducted that adjusted for relevant covariates. Additional models further adjusted for outdoor MVPA.

RESULTS

Parental-reported total OP, OP in summer/fall months, and OP on weekdays were negatively associated (small effect sizes) with response inhibition and working memory. After adjusting for outdoor MVPA, these associations were no longer statistically significant. OP on weekdays was negatively associated with externalizing (B = -0.04; 95% confidence interval, -0.08 to -0.00; P = .03) after adjusting for outdoor MVPA. A similar pattern was observed for device-based measured total OP (B = -0.49; 95% confidence interval, -1.05 to 0.07; P = .09).

CONCLUSIONS

Future research in preschool-aged children should take into account MVPA and contextual factors when examining the association between OP and health-related indicators.

The Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations Between Adherence to 24-Hour Movement Behavior Guidelines and Bone Health in Young Children

BACKGROUND

Adherence to the World Health Organization's 24-hour movement behavior (24-HMB) guidelines is associated with various health outcomes. However, its relationship with bone mineral density (BMD) in young children has not been investigated. This study aimed to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between adherence to the 24-HMB guidelines and BMD in young children.

METHODS

A total of 120 children aged 3-5 years were recruited from three kindergartens in Changsha, Hunan, China. Physical activity (PA) was objectively measured using ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometers, and BMD was assessed using the Sunlight Omnisense 7000P ultrasound device. Screen time (ST) and sleep duration (SD) were reported by parents. Logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between guideline adherence and BMD.

RESULTS

Only 5.5% of the participants met all three guidelines for PA, ST, and SD, while 16.5% did not meet any. In the cross-sectional analysis, young children who met both ST and SD guidelines (OR = 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.95) had a lower risk of insufficient BMD compared to those who met none. In the one-year cohort follow-up, young children who met the PA guideline at baseline (OR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.71), as well as those who met both the PA and ST guidelines (OR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.83) or all three (OR = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.69), had a lower risk of insufficient BMD at one year.

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to the 24-HMB guidelines may promote bone health in young children. Future research should prioritize achievable goals, such as limiting ST and ensuring adequate SD, while gradually increasing MVPA to optimize bone development.

An updated systematic review of correlates of children's physical activity and sedentary time in early childhood education services

BACKGROUND

Early childhood education services (ECE) continue to be a key setting to promote physical activity and limit sedentary behaviour. Thus, the aim of this study was to (1) provide an updated systematic review of correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour among children in ECE settings and (2) discuss changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviour correlates among children in ECEC settings over time.

METHODS

A systematic search of eight databases identified 40 studies published between 2015 and 2023 that met the inclusion criteria. The variables were categorized into four domains (child, educator, physical environmental and organizational). Fifty-eight variables were identified.

RESULTS

For data from 2015 to 2023, strong associations were identified in all domains (child, educator, physical environmental and organizational) for physical activity, yet no strong associations for sedentary behaviour were identified. Aggregated data (i.e., combining data from previous review and this review) showed strong associations with children's physical activity and age, motor coordination and sex (child), educator behaviour and presence (educator), presence and size of outdoor environments (physical environmental) and active opportunities and service quality (organizational). For sedentary behaviour, sex, outdoor environments and active opportunities were strongly associated in the combined data.

CONCLUSION

The correlates of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in ECE settings continue to be multi-dimensional and span different domains. Variables such as educator behaviours and intentionality, provision of active opportunities, use of outdoor space and service quality should be the key focus area for improving physical activity and sedentary behaviour levels of young children.

Associations between 24-h movement behaviors and indicators of mental health and well-being across the lifespan: a systematic review

Researchers have adopted a variety of analytical techniques to examine the collective influence of 24-h movement behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary behaviors, sleep) on mental health, but efforts to synthesize this growing body of literature have been limited to studies of children and youth. This systematic review investigated how combinations of 24-h movement behaviors relate to indicators of mental ill-being and well-being across the lifespan. A systematic search of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and SPORTDiscus was conducted. Studies were included if they reported all three movement behaviors; an indicator of mental ill-being or well-being; and were published in English after January 2009. Samples of both clinical and non-clinical populations were included. A total of 73 studies (n = 58 cross-sectional; n = 15 longitudinal) met our inclusion criteria, of which 47 investigated children/youth and 26 investigated adults. Seven analytical approaches were used: guideline adherence (total and specific combinations), movement compositions, isotemporal substitution, profile/cluster analyses, the Goldilocks method and rest-activity rhythmicity. More associations were reported for indicators of mental ill-being (n = 127 for children/youth; n = 53 for adults) than well-being (n = 54 for children/youth; n = 26 for adults). Across the lifespan, favorable benefits were most consistently observed for indicators of mental well-being and ill-being when all three components of the 24-h movement guidelines were met. Movement compositions were more often associated with indicators of mental health for children and youth than adults. Beneficial associations were consistently observed for indicators of mental health when sedentary behavior was replaced with sleep or physical activity. Other analytic approaches indicated that engaging in healthier and more consistent patterns of movement behaviors (emphasizing adequate sleep, maximizing physical activity, minimizing sedentary behaviors) were associated with better mental health. Favorable associations were reported less often in longitudinal studies. Collectively, these findings provide further support for adopting an integrative whole day approach to promote mental well-being and prevent and manage mental ill-being over the status quo of focusing on these behaviors in isolation. This literature, however, is still emerging-for adults in particular-and more longitudinal work is required to make stronger inferences.

The effect of experiential learning interventions on physical activity outcomes in children: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

This systematic review examined the effectiveness of experiential learning interventions for improving children's physical activity knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. It also aimed to identify intervention characteristics that resulted in the greatest impact.

METHODS

Four databases: Education Research Complete, Scopus, Web of Science and PsychINFO were searched from database inception to January 2023. Eligible studies: (1) included children 0-12 years; (2) assessed the effect of physical activity outcomes on children's physical activity knowledge, attitudes or behaviour and (3) were randomised controlled trials conducted in any setting. Study risk of bias was assessed by two independent reviewers using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Intervention approaches were categorised, and effect sizes were compared across studies for each outcome.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included in the review: ten in school age and two in below five years. For behavioural outcomes, six of eight studies showed medium to large effects (effects size (ES) range: 0.3-0.9), two of the three studies that assessed attitudinal outcomes displayed medium effects (ES range: 0.4-0.5) and both studies that assessed knowledge outcomes displayed medium to large effects (ES range: 0.4-1.3). The two experiential learning interventions among children < 5 years demonstrated small to medium effects on behaviour change (ES range: 0.2-0.5). Effective interventions combined enjoyable practical activities (fitness activities, games and challenges), with behaviour change techniques (goal setting, and self-monitoring), were underpinned by a behaviour change theory, and were often of short duration (< 4 months) but intense (several sessions/week). Moderate to high statistical heterogeneity was observed for behaviour outcomes and risk of bias across studies was generally high.

CONCLUSIONS

This review provides some evidence supporting the effectiveness of experiential learning interventions in improving physical activity outcomes in school-aged children. Additional evidence is needed in children <5 years old. Future experiential learning interventions need to strengthen the evidence with rigorous methodological quality and clear reporting of the experiential learning components.