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Article
Physical and Sedentary Activity Among Preschoolers in Home- Based Childcare: A Systematic Review
Journal of Physical Activity and Health (2015)
  • Patricia Tucker, Western University
  • Leigh M. Vanderloo
  • Olivia Martyniuk
Abstract

Although preschoolers' physical activity in center-based childcare has received considerable attention, less is known regarding this group's activity levels within home-based childcare. This review aimed to explore and synthesize the literature on preschoolers' physical and sedentary activity levels in home-based childcare. Outdoor playtime was also examined to contribute to the understanding of preschoolers' activity levels within this particular setting.Nine online databases were searched for peer-reviewed, English-language, primary studies that quantitatively measured physical and sedentary activity levels of preschoolers attending home-based childcare. Studies were excluded if they were nonprimary research, if they lacked a preschool-aged sample, if they did not quantitatively measure physical or sedentary activity, or if they took place in an ineligible environment. Seven articles were included in this review; 3 had objective measures of activity levels, and 4 relied on nonobjective measures. Accelerometry data suggest that preschoolers' average sedentary, moderate-to-vigorous, and total physical activity levels in home-based childcare ranged from 39.5 to 49.6, 1.8 to 9.7, and 10.4 to 33.8 min/hr, respectively. Outdoor playtime appears to be inconsistent in home-based childcare. Physical activity among preschoolers attending home-based childcare appears to be relatively low and widely varied. Sedentary time has received less attention in home-based childcare settings. Future research examining activity levels in this unique environment is warranted.

Publication Date
September, 2015
Citation Information
Patricia Tucker, Leigh M. Vanderloo and Olivia Martyniuk. "Physical and Sedentary Activity Among Preschoolers in Home- Based Childcare: A Systematic Review" Journal of Physical Activity and Health (2015)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/trish_tucker/51/