International Study of Movement Behaviors in the Early Years (SUNRISE): Results from SUNRISE Sweden’s Pilot and COVID-19 Study

The International Study of Movement Behaviors in the Early Years (SUNRISE) was initiated in response to the 2019 WHO guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep in children aged 0–5 years. This Swedish pilot study aimed to: (i) assess the proportion of preschoolers meeting the guidelines, (ii) evaluate the feasibility of the methods for the SUNRISE study, and (iii) assess how movement behaviors have been affected in preschoolers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical activity and sleep (waist-worn ActiGraph); screen time and movement behaviors (parental questionnaire); motor skills (Ages and Stages Questionnaire); and executive functions (3 iPad games) were assessed in 100 Swedish preschoolers (n = 58 boys). There were 19.4% of preschoolers (n = 14) who met the WHO guidelines. The motor skill and executive function assessments were feasible; however, 20% refused to wear the ActiGraph overnight. Additionally, during the pandemic Swedish children’s physical activity, time spent outside on weekdays and weekend days, and screen time significantly increased (+53; +124; +68; +30min/day, respectively, all p-values ≤ 0.001). Methods for the SUNRISE study were feasible in a Swedish context; however, considerations to switch to a wrist-worn accelerometer should be made. Furthermore, children’s physical activity increased during the pandemic, which is likely due to how the rules/restrictions were implemented in Sweden.

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International study of 24-h movement behaviors of early years (SUNRISE): a pilot study from Bangladesh

Pilot and Feasibility Studies ◽

10.1186/s40814-021-00912-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Sorowar Hossain ◽

Iztiba M. Deeba ◽

Mahmudul Hasan ◽

Katharina E. Kariippanon ◽

Kar Hau Chong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Preschool Children ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Sedentary Behavior ◽

Motor Skills ◽

Screen Time ◽

Early Years ◽

World Health ◽

Who Guidelines ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background The World Health Organization (WHO) released guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep for children under 5 years of age in 2019. In response to these guidelines, this pilot study aimed to (i) determine the proportion of preschool children (ages 3-4 years) who met the WHO guidelines; (ii) examine the feasibility of the proposed protocol for the SUNRISE study; and (iii) assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on movement behaviors of preschool children in Bangladesh. Methods Time spent in physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep were objectively measured using two types of accelerometers (ActiGraph wGT3x-BT and ActivPAL4). Screen time and sleep quality were assessed via parent questionnaire. Fine and gross motor skills were measured using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (3rd edition). Three executive functions were assessed using the Early Years Toolbox. Focus groups were conducted with parents and childcare staff to determine the feasibility of the protocol. Follow-up data during COVID-19 pandemic was collected from parents over phone. Results Data from 63 preschool-aged children and their parents was analyzed in this pilot study. Only three children (4.7%) met all components of the WHO guidelines. Separately, children meeting physical activity, sedentary screen time and sleep guidelines were 71.9%, 17.5%, and 59.7% respectively. The proportion of all children who were developmentally on-track for the gross and fine motor skills was 58.7% and 50.8%, respectively. Parents and educators reported that the protocol was feasible except for the activPAL-4 accelerometer. Approximately, 39% of children (14 out of 37) who wore this device developed itchy skin and rashes resulting in the suspension of using this device mid-way through data collection. During COVID-19, there was a significant decrease in children’s total physical activity (− 193 min/day), and time spent outside on weekdays (− 75 min/day) and weekend days (− 131 min/day) and a significant increase in sedentary screen time (+85 min/day). Conclusion Only a low proportion of children met the WHO guidelines. Methods and devices (except ActivPAL4) used in this pilot study proved to be feasible and this has paved the way to conduct the main SUNRISE study in Bangladesh. Future measures should be taken to address the issue of movement behaviors of children during the time of pandemics like COVID-19.

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International Study of 24-hour Movement Behaviors of Early Years (SUNRISE): A Pilot Study from Bangladesh

10.21203/rs.3.rs-417582/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Sorowar Hossain ◽

Iztiba M. Deeba ◽

Mahmudul Hasan ◽

Katharina E. Kariippanon ◽

Kar Hau Chong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Preschool Children ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Motor Skills ◽

Screen Time ◽

Early Years ◽

Fine Motor ◽

Who Guidelines ◽

Parent Questionnaire ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background This pilot study aimed to: (i) determine the proportion of preschool children (ages 3-4 who met the WHO guidelines; (ii) examine the feasibility of the proposed protocol for the SUNRISE study; and (iii) assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on movement behaviors of preschool children in Bangladesh. MethodsTime spent in physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep were objectively measured using two types of accelerometers (ActiGraph wGT3x-BT and ActivPAL4). Screen time and sleep quality were assessed via parent questionnaire. Fine and gross motor skills were measured using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (3rdediction). Three executive functions were assessed using the Early Years Toolbox. Focus groups were conducted with parents and childcare staffs to determine the feasibility of the protocol. Follow up data during COVID-19 pandemic was collected from parents over phone. ResultsData from 63 preschool aged children and their parents was analysed in this pilot study. Only three children (4.7%) met the all components of the WHO guidelines. Separately, children meeting physical activity, sedentary screen time and sleep guidelines were 71.9% 17.5% and 59.7% respectively. The proportion of all children who were developmentally on-track for the gross and fine motor skills were 58.7% and 50.8%, respectively. Parents and educators reported that the protocol was feasible except for the activPAL-4 accelerometer. Approximately 39% of children (14 out of 37) who wore this device developed itchy skin and rashes resulting in the suspension of using this device mid-way through data collection. During COVID-19, there was a significant decrease in children’s total physical activity (-193 min/day), and time spent outside on weekdays (-75 min/day) and weekend days (-131 min/day) and a significant increase in sedentary screen time (+85 min/day).ConclusionOnly a low proportion of children met WHO guideline. Methods and devices (except ActivPAL4) used in this pilot study were proved to be feasible and therefore it has paved the way to conduct the main SUNRISE study in Bangladesh. Future measures should be taken to address the issue of movement behaviours of children during the time of pandemics like COVID-19.

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Understanding the influence of 24-hour movement behaviours on the health and development of preschool children from low-income South African settings: the SUNRISE pilot study

South African Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.17159/2078-516x/2020/v32i1a8415 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Catherine Draper ◽

Simone A Tomaz ◽

Caylee J Cook ◽

Sasha S Jugdav ◽

Candice Ramsammy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Preschool Children ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Sedentary Behaviour ◽

South African ◽

Motor Skills ◽

Low Income ◽

Screen Time ◽

Early Years ◽

Gross Motor

Background: The International Study of Movement Behaviours in the Early Years, SUNRISE, was initiated to assess the extent to which young children meet movement behaviour guidelines (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, screen time, sleep). Objective: The South African SUNRISE pilot study assessed movement behaviours in preschool children from two low-income settings, and associations between these movement behaviours, adiposity, motor skills and executive function (EF). Methods: Preschool child/parent pairs (n = 89) were recruited from preschools in urban Soweto and rural Sweetwaters. Height and weight were measured to assess adiposity. Physical activity was assessed using accelerometers while sedentary behaviour, screen time and sleep were assessed via parent report. Fine and gross motor development were measured using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3, and EF was assessed using the Early Years Toolbox. Results: The proportion of children meeting the physical activity guideline was 84% , 66% met the sleep guideline ,48% met the screen time guideline , and 26% met all three guidelines. Rural children were more active, but spent more time on screens compared to urban children. Most children were on track for gross (96%) and fine motor (73%) development, and mean EF scores were in the expected range for all EF measures. EF was negatively associated with screen time, and gross motor skills were positively associated with physical activity. Conclusion: The South African SUNRISE study contributes to the growing literature on 24-hour movement behaviours in SA preschool children, and highlights that these behaviours require attention in this age group.

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The Relationship Between Parental Physical Activity and Screen Time Behaviors and the Behaviors of their Young Children

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.2014-0214 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 390-395 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Valerie Carson ◽

Jodie Stearns ◽

Ian Janssen

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Screen Time ◽

Regression Models ◽

Early Years ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Parental Physical Activity ◽

Healthy Growth ◽

The Relationship ◽

Family Centered ◽

Children’S Physical Activity

The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between parental and children’s physical activity and screen time behaviors in a large sample of children in the early years. The results are based on 738 children aged 0–5 years and their parents from the Kingston, Canada area. Parents completed a questionnaire from May to September 2011 that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, their physical activity and screen time, and their child’s physical activity and screen time. Logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were conducted. Parents in the lowest quartile of physical activity were 2.77 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.68–4.57) times more likely to have a child in the lowest quartile of physical activity compared with parents in the highest quartile of physical activity. Relationships were stronger in two parent homes compared with single-parent homes. Parents in the second (odds ratio = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.36–3.78), third (2.30, 1.32–3.99), and fourth (7.47, 4.53–12.33) screen time quartiles were significantly more likely to have a child in the highest quartile of screen time compared with parents in quartile one. To optimize healthy growth and development in the early years, future family-centered interventions targeting both physical activity and screen time appear important.

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Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations Between Parental Support and Children’s Physical Activity in the Early Years

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2015-0420 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 611-616 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Valerie Carson

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Child Care ◽

Parental Support ◽

Early Years ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Parental Questionnaire ◽

Unit Increase ◽

Longitudinal Associations ◽

Children’S Physical Activity

Background:The purpose of this study was to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between parental support and children’s physical activity outside of child care, and whether children’s age or sex moderated the associations.Methods:Results are based on 93 children aged 19 to 60 months at baseline from 8 child care centers across Alberta, Canada. Parental support (ie, transportation, coactivity, watching, encouragement, and informing) and children’s physical activity outside of child care were measured with a parental questionnaire at baseline (October/November 2013) and follow-up (May/June 2014).Results:Every additional unit increase in parental support was significantly associated with 48.5 minutes/week [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 29.3–67.6] and 52.2 (95% CI: 32.0–72.3) minutes/week higher parental reported children’s physical activity outside of child care at baseline and follow-up, respectively. A 1-unit increase in parental support from baseline to follow-up was significantly associated with a 24.8 (95% CI: 2.8–46.8) minutes/week increase in parental reported children’s physical activity outside of child care. Children’s age was a moderator at baseline only.Conclusions:Parental support was positively associated with children’s physical activity across all analyses. Parental support may be an important correlate to target in future interventions aiming to promote physical activity in the early years.

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COVID-19 Confinement In Portugal: Effects On The Household Routines Of Children Under 13

10.21203/rs.3.rs-45764/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

André Pombo ◽

Carlos Luz ◽

Luis Paulo Rodrigues ◽

Rita Cordovil

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Screen Time ◽

Online Survey ◽

Sedentary Time ◽

Age Groups ◽

Activity Time ◽

Daily Routines ◽

Low Levels ◽

Children’S Physical Activity ◽

Daily Time

Abstract Objective To know how confinement affects children’s routines, more specifically their physical activity (PA) and sedentary time.MethodsAn online survey was launched to assess how Portuguese children under 13 years of age are adjusting their daily routines to confinement. Parents reported the daily time each child was engaged in different activities, which were used to calculate overall sedentary time and overall physical activity time.Results: Data from 2159 children, indicated that during confinement: i) there was a decrease in children’s physical activity time (72.3%); and an increase in screen time (71.3%) and family activities (83.9%); ii) the only sex differences were found on Playful Screen Time (boys > girls) and in Play without PA (girls > boys); iii) along age groups, there was a trend for the increase of the overall sedentary time and a complementary decrease of overall physical activity time (both F(3,2097) =97.951, p < .001).Conclusion: Overall, PA of confined children showed low levels and a clear decreasing trend along childhood. Conjoint family and societal strategies to target specific age groups should be organized in the future.

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Protocol for a two-cohort randomized cluster clinical trial of a motor skills intervention: The Promoting Activity and Trajectories of Health (PATH) Study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037497 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. e037497 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Leah E. Robinson ◽

Lu Wang ◽

Natalie Colabianchi ◽

David F Stodden ◽

Dale Ulrich

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Clinical Trial ◽

Motor Skills ◽

Motor Skill ◽

Early Years ◽

Physical Competence ◽

Link Type ◽

Physical Activity Monitoring ◽

Post Test

IntroductionData supports that motor skills are an underlying mechanism that influence physical activity along with perceived motor and physical competence, but the relationship between motor skills and physical activity during the early years is unclear. The goal of this study, Promoting Activity and Trajectories of Health (PATH) for Children, is to examine and compare the immediate (pre-test to post-test) and sustained (3-year follow-up) effect of an intervention on motor performance, physical activity and perceived physical competence to a control condition (ie, standard practice) in preschool-age children.Methods and analysisThe PATH study is a two-cohort, randomised cluster clinical trial. 300 children between the ages of >3.5 to 5 years of age will be randomised to the motor skill intervention (n=153) or control (n=147) condition. Each assessment involves a measure of motor skill performance; product and process, seven consecutive days of physical activity monitoring and perceived physical competence. These measures will be assessed before and after the intervention (pre-test to post-test) and then each academic year across 3 years, grades kindergarten, first grade and second grade (3-year follow-up). To assess the clustered longitudinal effect of the intervention on outcome measures, random-effects models (eg, mixed model regression, growth curve modelling and structural equation modelling) will be used. The PATH study addresses gaps in paediatric exercise science research. Findings hold the potential to help shape public health and educational policies and interventions that support healthy development and active living during the early years.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for this study was obtained through the Health Sciences and Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board, University of Michigan (HUM00133319). The PATH study is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Findings will be disseminated via print, online media, dissemination events and practitioner and/or research journals.Trial registration numberNHLBI ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier, NCT03189862. Registered 17 August 2017, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03189862

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Developing physical activity interventions for children with a visual impairment: Lessons from the First Steps initiative

British Journal of Visual Impairment ◽

10.1177/0264619618823822 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 108-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jennifer B Scally ◽

Rhiannon Lord

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Visual Impairment ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Motor Skills ◽

Physical Activity Intervention ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Mixed Methods Approach ◽

Physical Activity Interventions ◽

Children’S Physical Activity ◽

Do So

Children with a visual impairment are less active than their sighted peers. Yet, they are born with the potential to match their sighted peers’ motor skill competency and levels of physical fitness. Environmental barriers are one of the main causes of inequities. This article provides insight on these issues, drawing upon a physical activity intervention called ‘First Steps’, a British Blind Sport initiative that aimed to get more children with a visual impairment more active. Physical activity packs were delivered to 53 children, aged 5–15 years, with a visual impairment. Of these participants, 62% had additional impairments or medical conditions. A mixed-methods approach was used to gather participants’ experiences of physical activity prior to receiving this pack and canvas opinion on how the pack changed their activity levels. The findings revealed inequitable experiences of physical activity. The First Steps pack made considerable progress in developing children’s physical activity levels. Participants’ motor skills, social interactions, and confidence improved. Organisations working with this population might look to adopt a similar concept. Recommendations for those wishing to do so are provided.

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Children’s Physical Activity and Screen Time during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Exploration of Parent Perceptions

Health Behavior and Policy Review ◽

10.14485/hbpr.8.3.5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 236-246

Author(s):

Amy Eyler ◽

Laurel Schmidt ◽

Alan Beck ◽

Amanda Gilbert ◽

Maura Keeper ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Environment ◽

Screen Time ◽

A Priori ◽

Virtual School ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Suburban Areas ◽

The Social ◽

Qualitative Exploration ◽

Children’S Physical Activity

Objective: In this study, we explore parent perception of children’s physical activity and screen time during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Methods: We interviewed 16 parents of children ages 5-12 years in the St. Louis, Missouri region using snowball sampling. We sampled from rural, urban, and suburban areas. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a priori and emergent codes. Results: The transition to virtual school and work transformed daily activities. Physical education requirements varied, generally perceived as not contributing to overall physical activity. Parents perceived the amount of physical activity as the same or increased but reported an increase in screen time. The physical environment of the home, yard, and neighborhood emerged as a theme as did the social environment for physical activity. Conclusions: COVID-19 stay-athome orders created challenges for children’s physical activity. Results can be used to inform more generalizable studies and serve as a basis for creating better parent resources to support their children’s physical activity outside of ordinary school, sport, and community activity opportunities.

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Effect of Maternal Sleep, Physical Activity and Screen Time during Pregnancy on the Risk of Childhood Respiratory Allergies: a Sex-specific Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-21581/v3 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yiting Chen ◽

Jiajun Lyu ◽

Yuanqing Xia ◽

Jianzhen Zhu ◽

Shilu Tong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Sex Difference ◽

Dose Response ◽

Screen Time ◽

Early Life ◽

International Study ◽

Single Type ◽

Short Sleep Duration ◽

Maternal Risk ◽

Respiratory Allergies

Abstract Background: Early life exposure in the uterus had a long-term effect on children's health. As the prevalence of allergies is increasing with a remarkable sex difference, very few studies have traced back to their early origins. We sought to investigate if maternal behavioral exposure, herein sleep, physical activity, and screen time during pregnancy is associated with childhood respiratory allergies. The sex difference would be examined. Methods: 6236 mother-child pairs from Shanghai Children Allergy Study (SCAS) were enrolled, The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was adopted to evaluate respiratory allergic diseases. Results: 14.6%, 16.2%, and 21.0% of children had asthma, wheeze, and allergic rhinitis, respectively. Maternal short sleep duration, lack of physical activity, and too much screen exposure during pregnancy could increase the risk of childhood respiratory allergies, however, the significance was found only in males. Moreover, a dose-response trend was clearly shown, any two of the three combined could increase the risk (OR,1.921; 95%CI,1.217-3.033), and the coexistence of all three further amplified the risk (OR,2.412; 95%CI,1.489-3.906). The findings can be verified in allergen test subgroup and each single type of respiratory allergies in most cases. Conclusions: Maternal unhealthy behaviors during pregnancy could increase the risk of childhood respiratory allergies with a dose-response pattern. Males were more susceptible to the association. The identification of modifiable maternal risk behaviors lies in the emphasis of intervention in early life to face up increasing childhood allergies.

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