Physical activity levels in
the early years and factors
that influence these
Factors influencing physical activity
• Physical activity is a complex, multidimensional behaviour influenced by
a wide range of factors.
• Young children have relatively little
control over their behaviours.
• Understanding the correlates of
physical activity is important in
changing behaviour.
Factors influencing physical activity:
Early years5,6,7
Demographic factors
• Boys are generally more active than
girls.
• Activity levels in this age group are
generally stable and do not change
significantly with age.
• Unclear whether a child’s ethnicity or
BMI/weight has an impact on their
activity levels between the ages of 05 years.
Factors influencing physical activity:
Early years6,7,8
Social/cultural factors
• A child who watches more television or
spends much of their time sitting may
have lower overall physical activity
levels.
• Parent-child interactions and role
modelling appear to encourage higher
levels of physical activity in young
children.
• A parent’s weight and physical activity
levels have mixed effects on their
children’s physical activity levels.
Factors influencing physical activity:
Early years6,7,8,9
Environmental factors
• Fewer children within a setting,
shorter breaks and more time
between breaks can increase levels of
physical activity.
• Children who spend more time
playing outdoors have higher levels of
physical activity.
Physical activity levels in England:
Survey data10
Based on the 2011 UK physical activity
guidelines, in England, in 2012:
• 9% of boys and 10% of girls aged 2-4
years were classified as meeting the
current guidelines for children aged
under 5 of at least three hours of
physical activity per day.
• 84% of children of this age were
classified in the ‘low activity’ group.*
Sedentary levels in the early years
• In the UK, for children aged 3 and 4
years, the average time spent being
sedentary is 10-11 hours a day11.
• In the early years, typical sedentary
behaviours might include watching
TV, travelling by car, bus or train, or
being strapped into a buggy.
References
1. Department of Health. Start Active, Stay Active – A report on physical activity for
health from the four home countries’ Chief Medical Officers. London: Department of
Health; 2011.
2. Chaput J, Klingenberg L, Rosenkilde M, Gilbert J, Tremblay A, Sjodin A. Physical
activity plays an important role in body weight regulation. J Obes. 2011;2011(Article
ID 360257).
3. Monasta L, Batty GD, Cattaneo A, Lutje V, Ronfani L, van Lenthe FJ, et al. Early-life
determinants of overweight and obesity: A review of systematic reviews. Obes Rev.
2010;11(10):695-708.
4. OECD (2007). Understanding the brain: the birth of a learning science. OECD 2007.
ISBN 978-92-64-02912-5.
5. Rudolf M. Tackling obesity through the healthy child programme: a framework for
action. National Obesity Observatory; 2009.
6. Hinkley T, Crawford D, Salmon J, Okely AD, Hesketh K. Preschool Children and Physical
Activity: A Review of Correlates. Am J Prev Med 2008 May;34(5): 435-41.
7. De Craemer M, De Decker E, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Vereecken C, Deforche, B, Manois Y,
Cardon G, on behalf of the ToyBox-study group. Correlates of energy balance-related
behaviours in preschool children: a systematic review. Obesity reviews 2012;13 Suppl
1:13-28.
8. Okely AD, Salmon J, Trost SG, Hinkley T. Discussion paper for the development of
physical activity recommendations for children under five years. Canberra, ACT,
Australia; Australian Department of Health and Ageing, Government of Australia;
2008.
9. Ridgers ND, Fairclough SJ, Stratton G. Variables associated with children's physical
activity levels during recess: the A-CLASS project. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2010,
7:74.
References
10. Health and Social Care Information Centre. Health Survey for England 2012.
Volume 1: Chapter 3 - Physical activity in children. Health and Social Care
Information Centre: Leeds; 2013.
11. Reilly JJ, Okely AD, Almond L et al. Making the Case for UK Physical Activity
Guidelines for Early Years: Recommendations and draft summary statements based
on the current evidence. Working paper. 2009.
12. The Health and Social Care Information Centre, Lifestyles Statistics. National Child
Measurement Programme: England, 2012/13 school year. Leeds: NHS Information
Centre; 2013.
13. Okely AD, Salmon J, Trost SG, Hinkley T. Discussion paper for the development of
physical activity recommendations for children under five years. Canberra:
Department of Health and Ageing, Government of Australia; 2008.
14. Timmons BW, Naylor P, Pfeiffer KA . Physical activity for preschool children: How
much and how? Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 32, 122–134; 2007.
15. Department for Children, Schools and Families. Statutory Framework for the Early
Years foundation Stage - Setting the Standards for Learning, Development and
Care for children from birth to five. Nottingham: Department for Children, Schools
and Families; 2008.
16. Northern Ireland Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment.
Understanding the Foundation Stage. Belfast: Early Years Interboard Group; 2006.
17. Wales Assembly Government. Framework for Children’s Learning for 3-7-year-olds
in Wales. Cardiff: Wales Assembly Government; 2008.
18. Allen G. Early Intervention: the Next Steps, An Independent Report to her
Majesty’s Government. London: HM Government; 2011.