Content development for a physical activity and sedentary behaviour e-learning module for early childhood education students: a Delphi study

Abstract

Background Early childhood educators play a prominent role in promoting healthy activity behaviours in childcare. However, they have expressed that they lack the appropriate pre-service training to confidently lead physical activity (PA), and minimize sedentary behaviour (SB), in childcare. As such, the purpose of this Delphi study was to generate and reach agreement on content areas for inclusion in a PA and SB e-Learning module for Early Childhood Education (ECE) students. Methods Purposeful sampling of Canadian/international researchers was used to form two expert panels: a PA/SB expert panel (n = 26), and a Canadian ECE panel (n = 35). The PA/SB experts suggested their top 12 PA/SB topics for the module via online survey. These topics were then pooled to generate a list of 19 content areas. In a second online survey, both panels of experts rated the importance of each content area (0 = unimportant to 5 = very important). Mean ratings (M) were ranked separately for each panel, and then ratings were pooled to create an overall ranking of the 19 content areas. Inter-panel agreement of importance rankings was visually represented as a scatterplot and quantified using Spearman’s rho (rs). Results The top-rated content area was Outdoor Play (M = 4.77 ± 0.64), followed by Benefits of PA in the Early Years (M = 4.75 ± 0.66), and Factors Influencing PA and SB in Childcare (M = 4.71 ± .74). Monitor PA and Sedentary Time Within Your Classroom had the lowest combined score (M = 3.77 ± 1.44). There was moderate-to strong inter-panel agreement for content area importance rankings (rs = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.83). The majority of the ECE expert panel considered this training important for ECE students (94.3%), aligning with ECE curriculum objectives (91.4%) and accreditation standards (78.8%), and complementary to the present ECE curriculum (88.6%). Conclusions Providing PA and SB training to ECE students is a proactive way to ensure healthy movement behaviours are prioritized in childcare programming. With the PA/SB expert-developed content areas, and endorsement by the ECE expert panel, implementing this training within ECE programs is a necessary next step.

Fitness Level Differences between Students in Kosovo and Montenegro

“…As mentioned above, there is a possibility that the genetics, geographical environment and different eating habits [11,[43][44][45][46][47] play a key role for the differences in morphological characteristics and motoric (fitness) abilities. Although previous researches did not provide a final answer to these questions, a greater number of studies show that the social and economic conditions in which the individual lives and their ecosystem are related to the level of motoric (fitness) abilities, as well as some morphological characteristics [48].…”

Training may enhance early childhood educators’ self-efficacy to lead physical activity in childcare

“…Such professional learning opportunities for ECEs may change the way they value PA experiences for children in the childcare setting, thus increasing the likelihood that they will incorporate more active play opportunities in their daily programming. While recent research by Bruijns and colleagues [ 50 ] has highlighted PA and sedentary behaviour content that should be included in ECE training (e.g., topics such as outdoor play, benefits of PA in early childhood, and factors of the childcare setting that influence PA), further research is necessary in order to determine the appropriate duration of training and what is the optimal mode of delivery before scaling up PA training to be offered to all ECEs across Canada [ 51 ].…”

Development of Physical Activity Competence Test Battery and Evaluation Standards for Korean Children

“…Development of guidelines for children’s physical activity and screen time [ 32 ]. Development of proactive methods that can increase physical activity and minimize sedentary behavior to promote healthy living habits [ 33 ]. A questionnaire design that measures children’s various levels of physical activity [ 34 ].…”