UK Preschool-aged children’s physical activity levels in childcare and at home: a cross-sectional exploration

摘要: Young children are thought to be inactive in childcare, but little is known about location-specific activity levels. This observational study sought describe the in-care and out-of-care patterns of preschool-aged explore differences physical level by childcare attendance. Three four-year-old were recruited from 30 preschool nursery ‘settings’ Cambridgeshire, UK. Average minutes per hour (min/h) spent sedentary (SED), light (LPA) moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) measured accelerometry for up 7 days (mean: 6.7 ± 1.1). Weekly attendance reported parents. The within-child association between outcomes was assessed using two- three-level hierarchical regression; sex care (in/out) interactions considered. Two hundred two (51 % female) had valid data ≥2 days. Children, particularly boys, less more active when compared at home (SED: Boys: β (SE): −6.4 (0.5) min/h, Girls: −4.8 (0.5); LPA: 0.6 (0.4), 1.8 (0.4); MVPA: 5.7 3.0 (0.4)). Differences at-home largest (early) mornings early evenings boys; no compensation occurred later day. On days part-time (1–5 h) or full-time (>5 h), they significantly with non-care days. children, accumulate MVPA home. Future research should identify factors accounting this difference consider targeting time intervention efforts increase higher-intensity decrease preschoolers.