Physical Literacy, According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in an Italian Preschool and Education for a Daily Movement Routine

Overview

Journal Children (Basel)

Date 2025 Jan 25

PMID 39857897

Authors

Gaetano Raiola

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Objectives: The preschool context produces excessive sedentary behavior in children. The systematic fulfillment of structured physical activities during school time, namely a daily movement routine (DMR), can contribute to increasing the quantity of physical activity (PA) and to improving physical literacy (PL), reaching the WHO's recommendations.

Aim: The present study aims to quantify the sedentary time spent by 4- and 5-year-old preschool children and to verify the effects that a DMR could have on sedentary habits in preschool children.

Method: An experimental observational study was carried out. Ad hoc questionnaires were administered to parents, teachers, and children, and an observation checklist was used to quantify the time spent in sedentary activities at school. Descriptive statistics and -tests were applied for data analysis.

Results: Thirty-two children attending Italian preschool participated in this study. The implementation of a DMR significantly reduced the sedentary time in preschool, decreasing the time spent sitting by 45.69% and increasing the time spent standing by 185%.

Conclusions: This study confirms the hypothesis that children move for less time than recommended by the WHO and highlights the importance of making the experiences of the DMR structural, as this could be an opportunity for educational processes to enhance active lifestyles in promoting the development of physical literacy.

References

Gehris J, Gooze R, Whitaker R . Teachers' perceptions about children's movement and learning in early childhood education programmes. Child Care Health Dev. 2014; 41(1):122-31. DOI: 10.1111/cch.12136. View

Raiola G, DIsanto T, Di Domenico F, DElia F . Effect of Teaching Methods on Motor Efficiency, Perceptions and Awareness in Children. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(16). PMC: 9408595. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610287. View

OBrien K, Vanderloo L, Bruijns B, Truelove S, Tucker P . Physical activity and sedentary time among preschoolers in centre-based childcare: a systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2018; 15(1):117. PMC: 6249856. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-018-0745-6. View

Edwards L, Bryant A, Keegan R, Morgan K, Jones A . Definitions, Foundations and Associations of Physical Literacy: A Systematic Review. Sports Med. 2016; 47(1):113-126. PMC: 5215133. DOI: 10.1007/s40279-016-0560-7. View

Green L, Ashton K, Bellis M, Clemens T, Douglas M . 'Health in All Policies'-A Key Driver for Health and Well-Being in a Post-COVID-19 Pandemic World. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(18). PMC: 8468680. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189468. View

Chaput J, Willumsen J, Bull F, Chou R, Ekelund U, Firth J . 2020 WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour for children and adolescents aged 5-17 years: summary of the evidence. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020; 17(1):141. PMC: 7691077. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-020-01037-z. View

Golubovic S, dordevic M, Ilic S, Nikolasevic Z . Engagement of Preschool-Aged Children in Daily Routines. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(22). PMC: 9690864. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214741. View

Agostini F, Minelli M, Mandolesi R . Outdoor Education in Italian Kindergartens: How Teachers Perceive Child Developmental Trajectories. Front Psychol. 2018; 9:1911. PMC: 6194191. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01911. View

Cardon G, De Bourdeaudhuij I . Are preschool children active enough? Objectively measured physical activity levels. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2008; 79(3):326-32. DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2008.10599496. View

10.

Steene-Johannessen J, Hansen B, Dalene K, Kolle E, Northstone K, Moller N . Variations in accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time across Europe - harmonized analyses of 47,497 children and adolescents. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020; 17(1):38. PMC: 7079516. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-020-00930-x. View

11.

Yin H, Omar Dev R, Soh K, Li F, Lian M . Assessment and development of physical education teachers' physical literacy: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2024; 19(7):e0307505. PMC: 11257255. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307505. View

12.

DIsanto T, Aliberti S, Altavilla G, Esposito G, DElia F . Heuristic Learning as a Method for Improving Students' Teamwork Skills in Physical Education. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(19). PMC: 9566243. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912596. View

13.

Altavilla G, Aliberti S, DElia F . Assessment of Motor Performance and Self-Perceived Psychophysical Well-Being in Relation to Body Mass Index in Italian Adolescents. Children (Basel). 2024; 11(9). PMC: 11430146. DOI: 10.3390/children11091119. View

14.

Van Hecke L, Loyen A, Verloigne M, van der Ploeg H, Lakerveld J, Brug J . Variation in population levels of physical activity in European children and adolescents according to cross-European studies: a systematic literature review within DEDIPAC. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2016; 13:70. PMC: 5399406. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-016-0396-4. View

15.

Alharbi M, Al-Hagoori S, Alotaibi H . Parental Perceptions of Physical Activity and Risk of Disease Associated with Sedentary Behaviours in Infants and Toddlers. Matern Child Health J. 2023; 28(4):641-648. DOI: 10.1007/s10995-023-03815-0. View

16.

Santaliestra-Pasias A, Mouratidou T, Verbestel V, Bammann K, Molnar D, Sieri S . Physical activity and sedentary behaviour in European children: the IDEFICS study. Public Health Nutr. 2013; 17(10):2295-306. PMC: 10282627. DOI: 10.1017/S1368980013002486. View

17.

Giustini M, Luzi I, Spinelli A, Andreozzi S, Bucciarelli M, Buoncristiano M . Exploring changes in children's well-being due to COVID-19 restrictions: the Italian EpaS-ISS study. Ital J Pediatr. 2023; 49(1):118. PMC: 10498567. DOI: 10.1186/s13052-023-01521-9. View

18.

Weir N, Pringle A, Roscoe C . Physical Literacy and Physical Activity in Early Years Education: What's Known, What's Done, and What's Needed?. Children (Basel). 2024; 11(11). PMC: 11593175. DOI: 10.3390/children11111355. View

19.

Lahuerta-Contell S, Molina-Garcia J, Queralt A, Martinez-Bello V . The Role of Preschool Hours in Achieving Physical Activity Recommendations for Preschoolers. Children (Basel). 2021; 8(2). PMC: 7911937. DOI: 10.3390/children8020082. View

19.

Janssen I . [Guidelines for physical activity in children and young people]. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2009; 32 Suppl 2F:S122-35. DOI: 10.1139/H07-112. View