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The Influence Of Centre-Based Childcare On Preschoolers' Physical Activity Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo, Andrew Johnson, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Shauna Burke, Jennifer Irwin

Trish Tucker

The childcare environment represents an appropriate avenue to support physical activity among preschoolers. The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) to measure the physical activity levels of a sample of preschoolers during childcare hours; and (2) to assess which attributes (e.g., space, equipment, policies) within centre-based childcare environments influenced physical activity. Thirty-one preschoolers from 5 childcare centres across London, Canada participated. Actical accelerometers were worn by participants for one day during childcare hours to assess activity levels using a 15 second epoch length. The Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation instrument was used to conduct a full-day evaluation of …