Investigating young children’s physical activity through time and place

Background: Previous research indicates the start of primary school (4-5-year-old) as an essential period for the development of children’s PA patterns, as from this point, the age-related decline of PA is most often observed. During this period, young children are exposed to a wider variety of environmental- and social contexts and therefore their PA is influenced by more diverse factors. However, in order to understand children’s daily PA patterns and identify relevant opportunities for PA promotion, it is important to further unravel in which (social) environments throughout the day, PA of young children takes place.
Methods: In total, 248 children provided valid accelerometer and global positioning (GPS) data. Geospatial analyses were conducted to quantify PA in (social) environments based on their school and home. Transport-related PA was evaluated using GPS speed-algorithms. PA was analysed at different time-periods and for week- and weekend days.
Results and conclusions: Children accumulated 60 minutes of PA during week- and weekend days. Schools contributed to approximately half of daily PA during weekdays. During weekends, environments within 100 meters from home were important, as well as locations outside the home-school neighbourhood. Pedestrian trips contributed to almost half of the daily PA.
Funding: The Start Vaardig study was funded by the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) (RAAKPRO03.123).