Improving fundamental movement skills in Hong Kong students through an assessment for learning intervention that emphasizes fun, mastery, and support: the A + FMS randomized controlled trial study protocol

Abstract Background Physical activity is related to many positive health outcomes, yet activity levels of many children are low. Researchers have suggested that family-based interventions may improve physical activity behaviors of both children and their parents. In this study, we evaluated the “Active 1 + FUN” program, which was designed based on tenets of self-determination theory. Intervention components included free sporting equipment, ten coach-led workshops and activity sessions, and one booster session. Methods We evaluated the intervention program using a randomized controlled trial. One hundred seventy-one families were randomly allocated to either an experimental group or a wait-list control group. Participants were exposed to program contents over a nine-month period, while families in the control did not receive any form of intervention. Measured constructs included moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, co-physical activity behaviors, fundamental movement skills, BMI, and several self-reported questionnaire outcomes. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to compare changes in measured outcomes across the two groups. Results No significant intervention effects were found for children’s and parents’ accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, or their co-physical activity. However, in terms of children’s fundamental movement skills, a significant Time*Group interaction (B = 0.52, 95% CI [0.07, 0.96] for Times 1 to 2; B = 0.24, 95% CI [0.01, 0.48] for Times 1 to 3) in favor of the experimental group was found. Conclusions Results suggested that the “Active 1 + FUN” program was effective in improving children’s fundamental movement skills. Additional research is needed to examine how family-based initiatives could effectively improve physical activity behaviors too. Trial registration ANZCTR, ACTRN12618001524280. Registered 11 September 2018, https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375660.

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Fundamental movement skills in preschoolers: a randomized controlled trial targeting object control proficiency

Child Care Health and Development ◽

10.1111/cch.12232 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 41 (6) ◽

pp. 1179-1187 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

L. Donath ◽

O. Faude ◽

S. Hagmann ◽

R. Roth ◽

L. Zahner

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Object Control ◽

Movement Skills ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Fundamental Movement Skills

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Effectiveness of the Healthy Start-Départ Santé approach on physical activity, healthy eating and fundamental movement skills of preschoolers attending childcare centres: A randomized controlled trial

10.21203/rs.2.12703/v4 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Anne Leis ◽

Stéphanie Ward ◽

Hassan Vatanparast ◽

Louise Humbert ◽

Amanda Froehlich Chow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Food Intake ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Movement Skills ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Fundamental Movement Skills

Abstract Background: Since young children spend approximately 30 hours per week in early childcare centres (ECC), this setting is ideal to foster healthy behaviors. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the Healthy Start-Départ Santé (HSDS) randomized controlled trial in increasing physical activity (PA) levels and improving healthy eating and fundamental movement skills in preschoolers attending ECC. Methods: Sixty-one ECC were randomly selected and allocated to either the usual practice (n=30; n=433 children) or intervention group (n=31; n=464 children). The HSDS intervention group was provided a 3-hour on-site training for childcare educators which aimed to increase their knowledge and self-efficacy in promoting healthy eating, PA and development of fundamental movement skills in preschoolers. PA was measured during childcare hours for five consecutive days using the Actical accelerometer. Preschoolers’ fundamental movement skills were assessed using the standard TGMD-II protocol and POMP scores. Food intake was evaluated using digital photography-assisted weighted plate waste at lunch, over two consecutive days. All data were collected prior to the HSDS intervention and again 9 months later. Mixed-effect models were used to analyse the effectiveness of the HSDS intervention on all outcome measures. Results: Total number of children who provided valid data at baseline and endpoint for PA, food intake and fundamental movement skills were 259, 670 and 492, respectively. Children in the HSDS intervention group had, on average, a 3.33 greater point increase in their locomotor motor skills scores than children in the control group (β=3.33, p=0.009). No significant differences in effects were observed for object control, PA and food intake. However, results demonstrated a marginal increase in portions of fruits and vegetables served in the intervention group compared to control group (β=0.06, p=0.05).Conclusion: Of the 12 outcome variables investigated in this study, 10 were not different between the study groups and two of them (locomotor skills and vegetables and fruits servings) showed a significant improvement. This suggests that HSDS is an effective intervention for the promotion of some healthy behaviours among preschoolers attending ECC.

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