Physical Activity of Serbian Children in Daycare

Abstract

Background: Monitoring of physical activity within the educational institution is of great importance, primarily because of the orientation and content implemented in the daycare. This research aimed to examine the number of steps children took during their stay in daycare with regards to age, gender and the frequency of going out. Methods: The research was conducted in four daycares in the urban environment of Novi Sad (Republic of Serbia), where 231 children, aged 5 to 7, were monitored (129 boys and 102 girls). Data on the number of steps were obtained using the pedometers. Results: The result of the univariate analysis of the variance test confirmed a statistically significant difference in the number of steps in relation to the age of children (p = 0.04). Boys were more active than girls in both age groups (p = 0.001). Children who were going to the daycare yard three to five times a week took drastically more steps than children who went up to twice a week (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The results of the current study show that age, gender, and time spent outdoors are significant determinants of physical activity in preschool age. Therefore, interventions regarding physical activity should be made during early childhood in order to promote health and prevent disease.

“Environmental Opportunities for Active Play and Physical Activity Level in Preschoolers: a Multicriteria Analysis.”

“…In Brazil, the educational legislation does not make the presence of physical education professionals mandatory to teach the content in preschool and the recreation happens with the class teacher 67,68 . This reality reinforces the importance of the preschool space having in its physical structure parks with equipment and a patio as factors to increase the PA of preschoolers in recreation 58,62 , as recommended by some studies 20,69 .…”

“…Although previous study suggested that children's PA levels are mainly in uenced by genetic factors 11 , evidences also point out the in uence of family 12,13 , and personal factors on PA levels 14,15,16,17,18 . In this setting, sex and age were determinants of personal factors 19 and, therefore, male preschoolers, older 19 and exposed to the outdoors 20 had higher levels of PA.…”

“…A previous study using direct PA measurement in Sweden preschoolers evidenced that the structural characteristics of the preschool, e.g., formalized PA policy and more time spent outdoors, were positively associated with PA of children 62 . Thus, formalized PA policies and outdoor time can be important for promoting children's PA during preschool hours 20 . Moreover, previous studies have advocated the expansion of the time in outdoor recreation associated to a structured PA in the preschool environment 36,44 .…”

“…In this sense, a greater space per child and open play areas could increase PA in children attending daycare centers 37 . The presence of portable play equipment and a playground 20 were also associated to greater PA in preschoolers 37,38 . Further investigation into the relative value of outdoor game designs, as well as the presence and quality of individual characteristics of the physical environment, e.g.…”

“…Regulatory and operational policy frameworks for the school environment have received little attention 42 despite evidence about the importance of physical space and the park bene t children's PA 19,20 . Added to this reality, there is a lack of works investigating the in uence of the home environment and the daycare center on the preschoolers' PA level 42 .…”