Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

An Exploration Of Early Childhood Education Students' Knowledge And Preparation To Facilitate Physical Activity For Preschoolers: A Cross-Sectional Study, Olivia Martyniuk, Patricia Tucker

Trish Tucker

Background Early childhood educators play an important role in influencing preschoolers’ physical activity levels. The current study sought to explore Early Childhood Education (ECE) students’ physical activity-related knowledge and educational experience during their formal training in Ontario.

Methods A total of 1,113 ECE students from 20 Ontario Colleges completed the study survey (online or on paper), which examined students’ physical activity course content; awareness of physical activity guidelines; understanding of health-related benefits of physical activity; self-efficacy to facilitate physical activity for preschoolers; self-reported physical activity levels; as well as physical activity-related resource needs. Descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests were …

Exploring The Nexus Between Health Promotion And Occupational Therapy: Synergies And Similarities, Patricia Tucker, Leigh Vanderloo, Jennifer Irwin, Angela Mandich, Ann Bossers

Trish Tucker

The similarities between health promotion and occupational therapy have been recognized. Both are based on perspectives that share a goal of enabling individuals and populations to improve control over their health. Consequently, it is logical that the principles of health promotion complement the practice of occupational therapy. Purpose. This paper highlights the affinity between occupational therapy and health promotion, and discusses ways in which health promotion principles can be incorporated into occupational therapy practice. Key Issues. Some Canadian occupational therapists may be unaware of the current discourse in health promotion and, thus, may not be incorporating its principles into practice. …

The Influence Of Parents And The Home Environment On Preschoolers' Physical Activity Behaviours: A Qualitative Investigation Of Childcare Providers' Perspectives, Patricia Tucker, Melissa Van Zandvoort, Shauna Burke, Jennifer Irwin

Trish Tucker

BACKGROUND: Physical activity offers numerous physiological and psychological benefits for young children; however, many preschool-aged children are not engaging in sufficient activity. The home environment, inclusive of parent role modeling, has been identified as influencing preschoolers' physical activity. This study sought to examine childcare providers' perspectives of the importance of parents and the home environment for supporting the physical activity behaviours of preschool-aged children (aged 2.5-5 years) attending childcare. METHODS: A heterogeneous sample of childcare providers (n = 84; response rate 39%) working at childcare facilities in London, Ontario participated. Thirteen semi-structured focus groups were conducted in London centres between …

Physical Activity Among Preschoolers During Indoor And Outdoor Childcare Play Periods, Leigh Vanderloo, Patricia Tucker, Andrew Johnson, Jeffrey Holmes

Trish Tucker

Preschoolers' (n = 31) physical activity (PA) levels during indoor and outdoor childcare hours were explored using accelerometers. Participants engaged in 0.54 min/h (SD = 0.59) of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and 14.42 min/h (SD = 6.78) of total PA (TPA) indoors compared with 5.03 min/h (SD = 4.92) of MVPA and 31.68 min/h (SD = 0.83) of TPA outdoors. Boys and girls engaged in significantly more TPA outdoors; however, only boys demonstrated a significant increase in MVPA outdoors.