Citation

Poest CA, Williams JR, Witt DD, Atwood ME. Early Child Res. Q. 1989; 4(3): 367-376.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0885-2006(89)90021-5

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although interest in physical fitness has grown in the past decades, empirical descriptions of physical activities at the preschool level have not surfaced. Drawing from estimates for elementary school children, this study attempted to describe preschool physical activity through parent and teacher perceptions using survey data from 514 children enrolled in nursery schools and day care centers. The results of the analyses indicated that (a) preschool children are not engaged in vigorous physical activity year round (p < .01); (b) boys are more physically active than girls (p < .05); (c) children in nursery school are more physically active than children in day care (p < .01); (d) parents involved in year-round physical exercise are more likely to have children who are involved in physical exercise year round (p < .05); and (e) teachers trained in early childhood education spent more instructional time in motor development than those teachers trained in other areas (p < .01). Teaching and research implications are suggested.