Quality of the Opportunities for Preschoolers’ Physical Activity in Portuguese Kindergartens
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Procedures
2.2. Instruments
2.2.1. Quality of the Kindergarten’s Physical Environment Design Attributes to Promote PA
2.2.2. Quality of the Kindergarten Physical Elements and Social Guidelines to Promote PA
2.3. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Quality of the Kindergarten’s Physical Environment Design Attributes to Promote PA
3.2. Quality of the Kindergarten Physical Elements and Social Guidelines to Promote PA
3.3. Correlation between Physical Environment Design Attributes and Teachers’ Daily Practices to Promote PA
4. Discussion
Strengths, Limitations, and Future Directions
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Item Score (0 to 4) | Percent of Kindergartens (n = 16) in Each Quality Category | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part | Subscale (Number of Items) | Item Assessed 1,2 | M (SD) | Average Quality | Fail | Poor | Fair | Good | Excel |
B.Building as a Whole | Common and Shared Facilities (12) | 4.8. Center has an indoor multipurpose playroom or gym, with enough space to accommodate slides, tunnels, ball play or to ride small push toys. | 1.00 (0.82) | Poor | 25 | 56.3 | 12.5 | 6.3 | 0 |
Facilities for adults and children (e.g., staff and multipurpose room) | |||||||||
C.Indoor Spaces for Children | Physical Activity Areas (14) | 10.3. Center has an indoor physical gross motor play area for preschoolers. | 0.13 (0.50) | Fail | 93.8 | 0 | 6.3 | 0 | 0 |
Spatial definition, surfaces, equipment, and storage of the physical gross motor play area | 10.4 The physical gross motor play area is spatially separated from other (non-shared) activity areas. | 2.19 (1.83) | Fair | 31.3 | 12.5 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 43.8 | |
10.5. The physical gross motor play area is appropriate for a range of gross-motor physical activities (e.g., hard surfaces for ball play, storage, display racks, climbing equipment). | 0.56 (0.63) | Poor | 50 | 43.8 | 6.3 | 0 | 0 | ||
D.Outdoor areas for Children | Play Yards: Functional Needs (7) | 12.1 Calculate the total area (m2) of useable outdoor play yards per child. | 3.13 (1.45) | Good | 12.5 | 0 | 18.8 | 0 | 68.8 |
Feature of outdoor play area meets functional needs. | 12.4. Some of the play yard is open and largely flat. | 2.75 (0.68) | Good | 6.3 | 0 | 18.8 | 68.8 | 6.3 | |
12.7 There are roofed outdoor areas that protect children’s activities in most local weather conditions. | 0.87 (0.81) | Poor | 37.5 | 37.5 | 25 | 0 | 0 | ||
Play Yards: Developmental Needs (8) | 13.1 The play yard(s) provides enough diversity, such as a variety of surfaces for different types of play, to be interesting for children. | 1.19 (0.98) | Poor | 25 | 43.8 | 18.8 | 12.5 | 0 | |
Features of outdoor play area meet developmental needs | 13.2. The play yards have both large and small areas for children to play. | 1.25 (1.13) | Poor | 31.3 | 25 | 37.5 | 0 | 6.3 | |
13.5. Some of the play yards contain contours that are safe yet challenging enough for children to play on. | 1.00 (0.63) | Poor | 18.8 | 62.5 | 18.8 | 0 | 0 | ||
Location and Site (11) | 14.9. The site has natural features such as trees, shrubs, and gentle slopes. | 1.88 (1.02) | Fair | 12.5 | 18.8 | 37.5 | 31.3 | 0 | |
Characteristics of the building site and its location in the community |
EPAO sr. Sub-Components | Average Score a | Percent of Kindergartens Meeting Best Practice |
---|---|---|
M (SD) | ||
| 1.65 (0.58) | 12.5 |
| 1.54 (0.46) | 0.0 |
| 2.31 (0.46) | 43.8 |
| 1.06 (0.45) | 0.0 |
| 1.63 (0.81) | 6.3 |
| 1.34 (0.29) | 0.0 |
| 1.69 (0.36) | 6.3 |
| 0.50 (0.53) | 0.0 |
| 1.62 (0.53) | 12.5 |
| 2.22 (0.33) | 31.3 |
| 1.48 (0.56) | 6.3 |
| 0.65 (0.63) | 0.0 |
| 1.81 (0.83) | 12.5 |
Total score b | 19.50 (4.61) |
Written Policies | % of KGs a | Physical Attributes | % of KGs a | Portable Equipment | % of KGs a |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Physical Activity | Outdoornatural Elements | Outdoor | |||
Include PA in classroom routine and transitions | 87.5 | Small trees | 68.8 | Balls (large and small) | 68.8 |
Adults and children with clothes participate in PA | 81.3 | Plants with flower | 56.3 | Equipment to jump (e.g., hula hoops, mini tramps) | 68.8 |
Motor Skills planned lessons 1 ≥ time per week | 81.3 | Larger trees | 50.0 | Loose parts | 62.5 |
Talking with children about PA importance | 68.8 | Grassy area | 50.0 | Marker items (e.g., poly spots, cones) | 62.5 |
Give families information on PA 2 ≥ per year | 37.5 | Floor with variations (e.g., hills, mounds) | 43.8 | Equipment to play on the floor (e.g., tumbling mats) | 56.3 |
Limit sitting time to 15 minutes per day | 25.0 | Trees to climb | 12.5 | Riding toys (e.g., cars, tricycles) | 56.3 |
120 min. PA indoor and outdoor per day | 25.0 | Rock to climb | 12.5 | Balance toys (e.g., balance beams, river stones) | 50.0 |
60 min adult-led PA per day | 12.5 | Hill to climb or to down rolling | 6.3 | Push/Pull toys (e.g., wagon, scooters, wheelbarrows) | 43.8 |
Give teachers training on PA 2 ≥ year | 12.5 | Fixed Equipment Outdoor | Portable Tunnel | 43.8 | |
Screen Time (ST) | Slide | 81.3 | Slide | 37.5 | |
Only 30 min of screen time per week for children with 2 ≥ years | 43.8 | Swing | 62.5 | Twirling play equipment (e.g., ribbons, scarves, batons) | 31.3 |
Give families information on ST 2 ≥ per year | 37.5 | Paved for bike or tricycle | 43.8 | Climbing structures (can be moved by staff or child) | 31.3 |
Give teachers training on ST 2 ≥ year | 12.5 | Climb structures (e.g., jungle gyms, ladders) | 43.8 | Sand water toys | 25.0 |
Outdoor Play and Learning (OPL) | Play house | 43.8 | Sand water table | 18.8 | |
Child and adults’ clothes to go outdoor in all seasons | 73.3 | Seesaw | 37.5 | Portable pool | 18.8 |
3 ≥ times outdoor play per day | 50.0 | Balance platforms (e.g., balance beams, boards) | 25.0 | Indoor | |
90 min outdoor play per day | 50.0 | Sand box (e.g., large enough for child to sit in) | 25.0 | Equipment to play on the floor (e.g., tumbling mats) | 100.0 |
Give families information on OPL 2 ≥ per year | 50.0 | Benches | 25.0 | Equipment to jump (e.g., hula hoops, mini tramps) | 81.3 |
Give teachers training on OPL 2 ≥year | 25.0 | Tunnel | 6.3 | Balls (large and small) | 75.0 |
Physical Attributes | Picnic tables | 6.3 | Marker items (e.g., poly spots, cones) | 68.8 | |
Indoor spaces to practice PA | Water area | 6.3 | Portable Tunnel | 56.3 | |
Use the activity room to do PA with children | 75.0 | Media equipment | Balance toys (e.g., balance beams, river stones) | 50.0 | |
Use gym to do PA with children | 68.8 | Computer | 70.6 | Loose parts | 37.5 |
Gym has space for any GMA b | 31.3 | TV | 64.7 | Climbing structures (can be moved by staff or child) | 31.3 |
Activity room have space for any GMA | 6.3 | DVD | 52.9 | Twirling equipment (e.g., ribbons, scarves, batons) | 31.3 |
Outdoor spaces to practice PA | Tablet | 5.9 | Push/Pull toys (e.g., wagon, scooters, wheelbarrows) | 18.8 | |
Outdoor have space for all class to run | 93.8 | Smartboard | 0.0 | Riding toys (e.g., cars, tricycles) | 6.3 |
Videogames system (e.g., playstation) | 0.0 | Sand water table or toys | 0.0 | ||
Slide | 0.0 | ||||
Portable pool | 0.0 |
Frequency, Time, and Type of Physical Activity Behavior a in a Day | M (SD) | Min. | p25 | Median | p75 | Max. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of times outside per day | 1.97 (0.56) | 1 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 3 |
Child play outdoors (min per day) | 72.19(22.28) | 40 | 56.25 | 68.75 | 90.00 | 128 |
Child indoor active play (min per day) | 28.44 (36.73) | 0 | 11.25 | 17.50 | 28.75 | 150 |
Adult PA led outdoor (min per day) | 7.50 (7.75) | 0 | 0.00 | 7.50 | 15.00 | 20 |
Adult PA led indoor (min per day) | 15.94 (10.52) | 0 | 6.25 | 17.50 | 23.75 | 30 |
Child is seating indoor (min per day) | 22.56 (12.34) | 0 | 15.00 | 24.50 | 30.00 | 44 |
Child is on the computer (min per day) | 5.31 (6.95) | 0 | 0.00 | 2.50 | 12.50 | 20 |
Child watching TV/movie (min per day) | 3.12 (4.79) | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 10.00 | 10 |
Type of physical activities outdoors a | 5.33 (1.36) | 3 | 5.00 | 5.50 | 6.56 | 7 |
Type of physical activities indoors a | 2.19 (1.52) | 0 | 1.25 | 1.75 | 3.50 | 5 |
EPAO-Sr. Daily Practices | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outdoor | Indoor | |||||||||
EAEFC ItemP | Number of Times Outside per Day | Minutes to Play Outside per Day | Minutes Teacher Led PA per Day | Type of Physical Activities | Minutes Active Play per Day | Minutes Teacher Led PA per Day | Minutes TV or Movie | Minutes Computer | Minutes Sitting | Type of Physical Activities |
(Scored 0 to 4) | rs (p) | rs (p) | rs (p) | rs (p) | rs (p) | rs (p) | rs (p) | rs (p) | rs (p) | rs (p) |
Indoor multipurpose active playroom or gym | −0.01 (0.97) | −0.09 (0.74) | 0.07 (0.81) | −0.31 (0.24) | 0.49 (0.06) | 0.59 * (0.02) | 0.49 (0.06) | −0.18 (0.52) | −0.31 (0.25) | 0.47 (0.06) |
Indoor physical gross motor play area for preschoolers | 0.14 (0.61) | 0.17 (0.53) | −0.16 (0.55) | −0.37 (0.16) | 0.21 (0.43) | 0.64 **(0.01) | −0.04 (0.90) | 0.08 (0.78) | −0.14 (0.60) | 0.14 (0.60) |
Inside Physical area separated from the others | 0.14 (0.61) | 0.04 (0.89) | 0.10 (0.72) | −0.43 (0.10) | 0.24 (0.37) | 0.52 * (0.04) | 0.19 (0.49) | −0.06 (0.82) | −0.39 (0.14) | 0.24 (0.38) |
Inside Physical area appropriate for a range of GMA a | −0.08 (0.78) | 0.02 (0.95) | 0.08 (0.76) | −0.36 (0.18) | 0.23 (0.40) | 0.53 * (0.53) | 0.46 (0.07) | −0.35(0.19) | −0.64 ** (0.01) | 0.30 (0.26) |
Useable outdoor area/child | 0.41 (0.11) | 0.04 (0.89) | −0.24 (0.38) | 0.35 (0.19) | −0.04 (0.89) | −0.00 (1.00) | 0.11 (0.69) | −0.30 (0.26) | 0.06 (0.82) | 0.16 (0.56) |
Outdoor open and largely flat | 0.03 (0.91) | −0.12 (0.66) | −0.38 (0.15) | −0.07 (0.80) | −0.17 (0.54) | 0.29 (0.27) | 0.02 (0.95) | −0.12 (0.65) | −0.09 (0.75) | −0.18 (0.50) |
Outdoor roofed area | 0.30 (0.25) | −0.10 (0.71) | 0.11 (0.67) | 0.42 (0.11) | −0.12 (0.65) | −0.28 (0.29) | −0.59 * (0.02) | 0.21 (0.44) | 0.65 ** (0.01) | −0.12 (0.66) |
Outdoor diversity and variety surfaces | 0.30 (0.25) | 0.07 (0.81) | −0.21 (0.43) | 0.53 * (0.03) | 0.26 (0.33) | 0.17 (0.54) | −0.19 (0.49) | −0.08 (0.76) | 0.38 (0.15) | 0.35 (0.19) |
Outdoor large and small areas to play | 0.55 * (0.03) | 0.03 (0.90) | 0.03 (0.92) | 0.54 *(0.03) | 0.23 (0.40) | 0.02 (0.94) | −0.12 (0.65) | −0.26 (0.33) | 0.24 (0.37) | 0.40 (0.13) |
Outdoor safe and challenging contours | 0.50 * (0.05) | −0.13 (0.62) | −0.27 (0.32) | 0.47 (0.07) | −0.02 (0.93) | −0.27 (0.31) | −0.22 (0.41 | 0.00 (1.00) | 0.20 (0.45) | 0.18 (0.51) |
Building site with natural features | 0.52 * (0.04) | 0.35 (0.19) | −0.27 (0.32) | 0.55 * (0.03) | 0.08 (0.77) | 0.22 (0.42) | 0.03 (0.91) | 0.06 (0.81) | 0.26 (0.33) | 0.16 (0.55) |
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Moreira, M.; Veiga, G.; Lopes, F.; Hales, D.; Cordovil, R. Quality of the Opportunities for Preschoolers’ Physical Activity in Portuguese Kindergartens. Educ. Sci. 2023, 13, 830. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13080830
Moreira M, Veiga G, Lopes F, Hales D, Cordovil R. Quality of the Opportunities for Preschoolers’ Physical Activity in Portuguese Kindergartens. Education Sciences. 2023; 13(8):830. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13080830
Chicago/Turabian StyleMoreira, Mariana, Guida Veiga, Frederico Lopes, Derek Hales, and Rita Cordovil. 2023. "Quality of the Opportunities for Preschoolers’ Physical Activity in Portuguese Kindergartens" Education Sciences 13, no. 8: 830. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13080830
APA StyleMoreira, M., Veiga, G., Lopes, F., Hales, D., & Cordovil, R. (2023). Quality of the Opportunities for Preschoolers’ Physical Activity in Portuguese Kindergartens. Education Sciences, 13(8), 830. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13080830