Seasonal and daily variation in physical activity among three-year-old Finnish preschool children

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to assess seasonal, daily, and gender variations in children's physical activity (PA). ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers were used to record the three-year-old children's PA levels for five consecutive days in autumn and winter. Complete data for both seasons were obtained for 47 children. Despite a significant difference in seasonal temperatures (p < .001), differences were only found for weekdays light PA (p = .021). No difference in PA was observed between weekdays and weekend days. Only 20% of the sample had ≥120 minutes light-to-vigorous PA (LMVPA), and 46% of children had ≥60 minutes moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Boys spent more minutes in LMVPA (p = .001) and MVPA (p = .004) than girls. The current findings indicated that season and day of the week only minimally influence children's PA levels, whereas gender continues to be a significant factor.

Keywords:

• accelerometer
• childcare
• early childhood
• physical activity

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the children, childcare centre staff and parents for their enthusiastic collaboration that made this research possible.

Notes on contributors

Anne Soini, M.Sc, is a doctoral student in Department of Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Tuija Tammelin, PhD, is a research manager in Research Center for Sport and Health Sciences, LIKES, Finland.

Arja Sääkslahti, PhD, is a senior researcher in Department of Sport Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Anthony Watt, PhD, is senior lecturer in School of Education at the Victoria University, Australia.

Jari Villberg, M.Sc, is a statistician in Department of Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Tarja Kettunen, PhD, is a professor of Health Promotion in Department of Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä and Unit of Primary Health Care, Central Finland Health Care District, Finland.

Anette Mehtälä, M.Sc, is a doctoral student in Department of Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.

Marita Poskiparta, PhD, is a professor of Health Education in Department of Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.