scholarly journals Teaching Methodologies and School Organization in Early Childhood Education and Its Association with Physical Activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3836
Author(s):  
Adriana Nielsen-Rodríguez ◽  
Ramón Romance ◽  
Juan Carlos Dobado-Castañeda
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
School Organization ◽  
Sedentary Behaviors ◽  
Teaching Methodologies ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Class Time ◽  
School Day ◽  
Intense Activity ◽  
Movement Integration

Early childhood represents a crucial period for child development. Physical activity is essential in this process, but studies show that children are very inactive and do not meet the recommended minimums. Due to the large proportion of time they spend at school, it is necessary to examine active and sedentary behaviors in these environments. The aim of the study is to analyze the amount and intensity of physical activity in preschool children during the school day according to the methodology used. Using accelerometry, the amount and intensity of physical activity and sedentary behavior of 156 children aged 4–6 years at different times of the school day were evaluated. The results revealed that preschoolers spend most of their class time sedentary, with children participating in active methodologies registering the highest amount and intensity of physical activity. Recess and specific motor sessions are the most active times, although the latter should increase the time of intense activity that they imply. To increase physical activity during the school day, it is necessary to establish movement integration methodologies, while increasing the number and adjusting the duration of specific motor sessions and of recesses, so that the maximum possible use is made of them.

scholarly journals The Role of Preschool Hours in Achieving Physical Activity Recommendations for Preschoolers

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Sara Lahuerta-Contell ◽  
Javier Molina-García ◽  
Ana Queralt ◽  
Vladimir E. Martínez-Bello
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
School Environment ◽  
High Density ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Sociodemographic Correlates ◽  
Physical Activity Recommendations ◽  
Activity Recommendations

Research on physical activity (PA) in different educational settings could elucidate which interventions promote a healthy school lifestyle in early childhood education (ECE). The aims of this study were: (a) to analyse the PA levels of preschoolers during school hours, as well as the rate of compliance with specific recommendations on total PA (TPA) and moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA); (b) to examine the role of structured movement sessions and recess time in the MVPA levels during school hours; (c) to evaluate the sociodemographic correlates of preschoolers and the school environment on MVPA behaviour during school hours. PA was evaluated with Actigraph accelerometers. Our main findings were that: (a) preschoolers engaged in very little TPA and MVPA during school hours; (b) children showed significantly higher MVPA levels on days with versus without structured movement sessions, and the contribution of the structured sessions to MVPA was significantly higher than that of recess time; (c) gender and age were associated with PA, and a high density of young children on the playground was associated with high levels of vigorous PA, whereas in the classroom, high density was associated with more sedentary behaviour. Structured PA could reduce the gap in achieving international recommendations.

scholarly journals The Impact of a Workplace Wellness Program on Provider Health in Early Childhood Education Settings

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie N. Powers ◽  
Charlotte V. Farewell ◽  
Emily Maiurro ◽  
Jini Puma
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Childhood Education

Background: Early childhood education (ECE) working environments often contribute to poor health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to describe healthy eating–related and physical activity–related awareness and adoption of behavior change of ECE providers after participating in a workplace wellness (WW) program and to explore facilitators and barriers to ECE provider participation in WW program. Methods: The WW program offered healthy eating and physical activity challenges to promote ECE provider health and well-being. Approximately 1,000 ECE providers in Colorado from 35 ECE settings were invited to participate. After the intervention, ECE providers completed two surveys: (a) a provider postsurvey and (b) a WW challenge survey. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to examine factors associated with percent agreement that participation in the WW program increased awareness and adoption of health behaviors. Findings: A total of 250 (25%) ECE providers participated in WW program from 2015 to 2017. After participation, approximately 84% of respondents agreed they were more aware of the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and of being physically active, while 81% reported eating more fruits and vegetables, and 80% reported being more physically active in the workplace. Logistic regression models found that the length of time teaching in ECE settings was positively and significantly associated (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.00, 1.21]) with the odds of providers agreeing that participation in the WW program increased their awareness of health behaviors. Conclusion/Application to Practice: The design and implementation of WW programs that emphasize facilitators, such as intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, as well as reduce barriers, such as time constraints and unachievable goal setting, may increase the awareness and adoptions of healthy eating–related and physical activity–related behaviors among ECE work settings.

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 on Eating Environments and Activity in Early Childhood Education and Care in Alberta, Canada: A Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4247
Author(s):  
Lynne M. Z. Lafave ◽  
Alexis D. Webster ◽  
Ceilidh McConnell ◽  
Nadine Van Wyk ◽  
Mark R. Lafave
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Education And Care ◽  
The Impact

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) environments influence children’s early development and habits that track across a lifespan. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 government-mandated guidelines on physical activity (PA) and eating environments in ECEC settings. This cross-sectional study involved the recruitment of 19 ECEC centers pre-COVID (2019) and 15 ECEC centers during COVID (2020) in Alberta, Canada (n = 34 ECEC centers; n = 83 educators; n = 361 preschoolers). Educators completed the CHEERS (Creating Healthy Eating and activity Environments Survey) and MEQ (Mindful Eating Questionnaire) self-audit tools while GT3X+ ActiGraph accelerometers measured preschooler PA. The CHEERS healthy eating environment subscale was greater during COVID-19 (5.97 ± 0.52; 5.80 ± 0.62; p = 0.02) and the overall score positively correlated with the MEQ score (r = 0.20; p = 0.002). Preschoolers exhibited greater hourly step counts (800 ± 189; 649 ± 185), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) (9.3 ± 3.0 min/h; 7.9 ± 3.2 min/h) and lower sedentary times (42.4 ± 3.9 min/h; 44.1 ± 4.9 min/h) during COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID, respectively (p < 0.05). These findings suggest the eating environment and indices of child physical activity were better in 2020, which could possibly be attributed to a change in government-mandated COVID-19 guideline policy.

Didactic Proposal for Physical Education for Three-Year Olds in Early Childhood Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 262-279
Author(s):  
Carmen Delgado Ruiz ◽  
Elena Portero Ponce ◽  
Elena González Vela ◽  
María Muñoz Álvarez
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Performing Arts ◽  
Autonomous Community ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
La Mancha ◽  
Different Types

Throughout this chapter the authors are going to present a didactic proposal, called “Lights, Camera, and Action” that is arranged to be carried out with three-year-old boys and girls and consists of five sessions, which will be spread over 15 days, and physical activity will be performed twice a week. In this proposal, topics like the typical in the performing arts such as circus, theater, dance, and music are explored. In this playful and motivating way, physical activity will be promoted, through our own content such as jumps, turns, and different types of balance. The didactic proposal contains objectives, competences, and contents, regulated by the Curriculum Decree 67/2007 establishing Early Childhood Education in the Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain).

Shade coverage, ultraviolet radiation and children’s physical activity in early childhood education and care

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 1325-1333
Author(s):  
Hayley Christian ◽  
Leanne Lester ◽  
Stewart G. Trost ◽  
Georgina Trapp ◽  
Jasper Schipperijn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Ultraviolet Radiation ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Education And Care ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

An Indoor Physical Activity Area for Increasing Physical Activity in the Early Childhood Education Classroom: An Experience for Enhancing Young Children's Movement

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia Segura-Martínez ◽  
Javier Molina-García ◽  
Ana Queralt ◽  
María del Mar Bernabé-Villodre ◽  
Daniel A. Martínez-Bello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Activity Area
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