What is it about?

This research project explores a simple, no-cost way to help young children (ages 3 to 6) stay more active during their time at childcare. Many childcare centers currently provide one long block of outdoor play during the day. This study aims to find out if breaking that same amount of playtime into three shorter sessions encourages children to move more and play more intensely. To find the answer, researchers will work with 14 childcare centers in New South Wales, Australia. Half of these centers will be randomly assigned to change their schedule to include three shorter play breaks, while the other half will continue with their usual single long session. To get accurate results, children in both groups will wear small motion sensors (accelerometers) for five days. These devices measure exactly how much 'moderate-to-vigorous' activity (the kind that gets their hearts pumping), the children get. By comparing the two groups after three months, the study will determine if simply changing the daily routine is an effective way to improve children's health and physical activity habits without requiring extra equipment or staff.

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Why is it important?

Establishing healthy physical activity habits in early childhood is vital for long-term heart health, bone strength, and healthy development. However, many children in childcare spend long periods being inactive. This study is important because it tests a 'low-cost, high-impact' solution: changing the daily schedule to see if frequent, shorter play breaks keep children’s energy levels higher than one long session. If successful, this research provides childcare centers with a simple, evidence-based strategy to improve child health and focus without requiring extra staff, funding, or equipment.

Perspectives

This study is vital because it addresses childhood inactivity through a practical, 'low-cost' scheduling change that any childcare center can adopt. Its importance is backed by a rigorous, NHMRC-funded research design - the gold standard for clinical evidence. By utilizing a specialized team of statisticians and supported research assistants for precise on-site data collection, the study ensures that the findings are both scientifically 'clean' and highly reliable. Ultimately, this research provides a high-quality roadmap for improving long-term health outcomes for children during their most formative years.

Lubna Razak
Brunei Ministry of Health

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: A randomised controlled trial of multiple periods of outdoor free-play to increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among 3 to 6 year old children attending childcare: study protocol, BMC Public Health, September 2016, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3604-x.
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