Changes in physical activity in preschoolers and first-grade children: A longitudinal study

Background: The transition from kindergarten to first-year at school is associated with a variety of psychosocial changes in children. The aim of this longitudinal study was to identify the changes in children’s physical activity (PA) levels upon entry to first year at school; and to identify the days of the school week that exhibit low PA levels. Methods: We monitored the PA levels of 88 children twice: initially in kindergarten and again in first-year classes at school. We evaluated PA levels employing the activity energy expenditure (AEE – kcal·kg^-1·day^-1) from Caltrac accelerometer and daily amount of steps (STEPS) from Yamax pedometer. Participants were monitored over 7 days to include a weekend. Results: First-year school children had significantly lower AEE and STEPS than preschool (kindergarten) children on weekdays schooltime (including after-school nursery) and at the weekends (p < 0.0001). Decline in PA on weekdays was during time spent at school (p < 0.0001) and not during after school children’s leisure time. Conclusion: The parts of the week when first-year school children show low physical activity are the times spent in lessons and in after-school nursery and at weekends. Physical activity needs to be promoted using intervention programmes mainly during the after-school nursery programmes and at weekends.
Key words: Activity energy expenditure, steps, weekdays, weekend, school, leisure-time