Individual- and environmental-related correlates of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old Finnish children

peer-reviewed The objective of this study was to analyze the associations of various individual- and environmental- related factors with subgroups of daily, frequent, moderate and low moderate-to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among children and adolescents. Data were obtained from the Finnish School-age Physical Activity (FSPA) study 2016 from 4677 national representative 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old children and adolescents. MVPA and individual- and environmental-related factors were assessed by a questionnaire and analyzed by two-level logistic regression. Seventeen of the twenty-one variables were statistically significantly associated with MVPA. However, only three variables were stati…

Results From Finland's 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.

Background:Finland’s 2016 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth gathers and translates research results and assesses the status and promotion of physical activity (PA) among Finnish children and youth less than 18 years of age. This article summarizes the results and provides grades for 9 indicators.Methods:The working group evaluated the evidence and assigned grades of A (highest, 81% to 100%), B, C, D, or F (lowest, 0% to 20%) for 9 PA indicators using the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card development process.Results:The grades varied in Finland as follows: 1) Overall PA/fulfillment of recommendations = D, 2) Organized Sport Participation = C, 3) Active Play = C, 4)…

Physical activity as a preventive measure for coronary heart disease risk factors in early childhood.

Physical activity causes acute physiological and long-term adaptive responses in the body. It is a protective factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) in adults. It has been assumed that children younger than 8 years of age may be in general active enough and there would be hardly any relationships between physical activity and CHD risk factors in early childhood. One hundred and fifty-five children (age 4-7 years) participated in this physical activity study during three consecutive years. Physical activity was examined twice a year with a special-purpose physical activity diary. CHD risk factors were measured during annual health care visits in the Specific Turku Coronary Risk-Factor Inter…

Perceived motor competence in early childhood predicts perceived and actual motor competence in middle childhood

The study aims were to (1) identify perceived motor competence (PMC) and actual motor competence (AMC) profiles in children at two time points (early and middle childhood) 3 years apart, (2) explore transitions between the profiles from T1 to T2, and (3) investigate how PMC-AMC profiles at T1 differ in their mean values for AMC and PMC variables at T2. PMC was assessed by the pictorial scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence for young children (PMSC). At T1, AMC was measured with Test of Gross Motor Development–third version (TGMD-3), and at T2, a shortened TGMD-3 was used. To identify the PMC-AMC profiles using latent profile analysis, the Mplus statistical package (version 8.7) was u…

What factors relate to three profiles of perception of motor competence in young children?

The study aims were to 1) examine profiles of perception of motor competence (PMC) in relation to actual motor competence (AMC), i.e. under-estimators (UEs), realistic estimators (REs) and over-estimators (OEs) and 2) investigate associations between the profiles and selected socioecological factors at the individual, family and environmental levels. PMC (Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence) and AMC (Test of Gross Motor Development-Third Edition) were administered to a representative sample of children from 37 childcare centres in Finland (n=441;6.2±0.6yrs;52% boys). Socioecological factors were investigated using a parental questionnaire. The three profiles were formed b…

The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the Actual Aquatic Skills Test (AAST) for assessing young children’s motor competence in the water

As children’s actual aquatic skills are important for the prevention of drowning as well as their engagement in lifelong aquatic physical activity, researchers and practitioners should be able to assess this vital concept accurately and reliably. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the Actual Aquatic Skills Test (AAST), consisting of 17 different test items for the assessment of young children’s motor competence in the water. Six raters received a training and evaluation session on scoring the AAST, after which five of them assessed four test videos (of various children (n = 38) performing the test items) twice, with one to t…

Erilaiset liikkujapolut huomioitava lapsilähtöisesti

Ohjaajat ja valmentajat tarvitsevat pedagogisia taitoja, jotta he voisivat tukea harrastajien kiinnittymistä liikuntaan. nonPeerReviewed

Finland : An international approach to Physical Development

This chapter outlines a number of comparisons between Finland and the United Kingdom, in relation to physical development opportunities, Physical Education (PE) and physical activity. In Finland, teaching is a very attractive profession, with just 10 per cent of applicants admitted to be trained as teachers. Teaching is valued as one of the top four professions in Finland, and PE teachers belong to this highly valued group requiring a five-year Master’s degree. In Finland, early education covers the 0–8 age range and is designed to provide continuous and progressive education and care from the Early Years, to preschool and through to the early part of Primary School. The aim of early childh…

Children’s physical activity and sedentary time compared using assessments of accelerometry counts and muscle activity level

Background This research compared accelerometry (ACC)-derived and muscle electromyography (EMG)-based estimates of physical activity (PA) and sedentary time in typical PA tasks and during the daily lives of children. Methods Data was included from two exploratory studies. In Study I, 6–7-year-old children (n = 11, 64% girls) were assessed for eight PA tasks (walking, stair negotiation, climbing, crawling, swinging, balancing, trampoline jumping and a game of tag). In Study II, 7–9-year-old children (n = 14, 38% girls) were assessed for six PA tasks (walking, sitting, static squat, single leg hops, jump for height and standing long jump), and daily PA during one day with and one day without…

Environmental Correlates of Motor Competence in Children -The Skilled Kids Study

Environment, physical activity (PA) and motor development are tightly interwoven during childhood. We examined the associations of environmental factors with motor competence (MC) in children. Children (N = 945, 50.1% boys, age = 3–7 years, mean = 5.4 years) from 37 childcare centres in the Southern (n = 17), Central (n = 13) and Northern Finland (n = 7) participated. The environmental factors comprised the geographical location (Southern, Central and Northern Finland) and residential density (metropolitan area, city, rural area and countryside) of the childcare centres’ based on postal codes and the national population density registry. MC was measured using the Test of Gross Motor Develop…

Sociodemographic Correlates of Parental Co-Participation in Digital Media Use and Physical Play of Preschool-Age Children

Young children’s digital media use and physical activity have gained attention in recent research. Parental co-participation has a major impact on children’s health consequences. This study addressed a gap in the research by investigating daily parental co-participation in children’s digital media use and physical play, using the family ecological model theoretical framework. The participants in this nationally representative cross-sectional study were 2512 Finnish parents with two- to six-year-old children. Parents completed a questionnaire. Sociodemographic correlates of co-participation and of the awareness of guidelines regarding co-participation and correlation between co-participation…

Differences between young children’s actual, self-perceived and parent-perceived aquatic skills

As drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury/death in children worldwide, perceptions of their actual aquatic skills are of critical importance. Children’s self-perceptions may influence the risks they take, and parental perceptions may influence the degree of supervision deemed to be necessary for children in and around water. Accordingly, we examined the differences between young children’s actual, self-perceived and parent-perceived aquatic skills. Using a three-way repeated measures ANCOVA, we analyzed data from 134 child-parent dyads (56.0% boys; M age = 7.1, SD = 1.1 years; and 71.6% mothers). We measured self and parental perceptions of the child’s aquatic skills with the …

Merkittävä liikunnanopettajakoulutuksen kehittäjä ja liikuntakasvatuksen tutkija

Liikuntapedagogiikan professori Risto Telama menehtyi 86-vuotiaana 14. marraskuuta 2022 Jyväskylässä. nonPeerReviewed

Relationship between Fundamental Motor Skills and Physical Activity in 4-Year-Old Preschool Children

This study evaluated the relationships between objectively measured physical activity and fundamental motor skills in 4-year-old children. Physical activity was monitored in 20 girls and 17 boys over 5 consecutive days (3 days at preschool and 2 days at home) and their fundamental motor skills measured. Multiple linear regressions controlled for sex, age, and body mass index indicated that the total skill score was significantly associated with physical activity, explaining 13%, 16%, and 16% of the variance in total, moderate-to-vigorous, and light-to-vigorous physical activity, respectively. Sliding and galloping were significantly associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, a…

Finnish students’ enjoyment and anxiety levels during fitness testing classes

Background: Fitness testing is a commonly applied learning and teaching practice implemented in both secondary and elementary school physical education (PE). Many teachers believe that by using a variety of different tests, they are able to provide students with feedback regarding their fitness status, and furthermore, increase students’ willingness to be physically active later in their lives. However, empirical evidence concerning students’ affective responses during fitness testing classes is limited. Purpose: The primary aim of the study was to investigate whether students’ perceptions of enjoyment and anxiety differed between two different types of fitness testing classes and PE in gen…

Comparison of motor competence in children aged 6-9 years across northern, central, and southern European regions.

The present study aimed at examining differences in motor competence (MC) in children aged 6 to 9 years old in northern, central, and southern European regions using the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK). The secondary aim of the study was to examine interactions between region and children's age, sex and weight status (determined as healthy weight or overweight/obese). Data was pooled from independent studies conducted in Finland (mean age 7.81 ± 1.19 years, n = 690), Belgium (mean age 8.25 ± 1.09 years, n = 1,896) and Portugal (mean age 8.31 ± 1.02 years, n = 758) between 2008 and 2016. Cross-cultural differences in MC and interaction effects were tested using ANOVAs and ANCOVAs. A…

Parental Support and Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Children: A Yearlong Cluster-Randomized Controlled Efficacy Trial

ABSTRACTPurpose: We studied whether physical activity (PA) counseling for parents influenced the level of parental support of children’s PA and leisure-time PA in children of different levels of initial parental support. We hypothesized that the initial level of parental support would moderate the intervention efficacy. Method: Children (n = 44, Mage = 6.09 ± 1.17 years) and their parents (n = 61) randomly assigned to an intervention group received counseling for 6 months. Children in the control group (n = 47, Mage = 6.12 ± 1.11 years) and their parents (n = 63) did not receive any counseling. Parental support was assessed using the Family Physical Activity Environment Questionnaire, and c…

Mitä ihmettä - HIIT'iä ja teatteria?

ObLoMoV (Obesity and low motility victims) -hanke on kehitelty liikuntaa ja teatteri-ilmaisun työskentelytapoja yhdistäväksi menetelmäksi, jonka avulla pyritään tuomaan uudenlaista lähestymistapaa liikunnanopetukseen myönteisten kokemusten ja liikunnallisen elämäntavan löytämiseksi. nonPeerReviewed

A comparison of physical activity levels in childcare contexts among Finnish and Dutch three-year-olds

The aim of the current study was to determine Finnish and Dutch three-year-old preschool children's physical activity (PA) levels and how levels vary across gender, location, time of day and social contexts in both countries. A modified version of the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Preschool (OSRAC-P) was used to measure children's PA levels and contextual variables (e.g. group composition, prompts) of children attending childcare centres in Finland and the Netherlands. In total, 90 Finnish children (46 boys and 44 girls) and 97 Dutch children (46 boys and 51 girls) were observed. Three-level linear regression analyses with cross level interactions were use…

Motorista kehitystä tukevaan kerhoon osallistuneiden oppilaiden oppimistuloksia ja opiskelustrategioita matematiikassa ja äidinkielessä

Co-development of the national monitoring system for the joy of motion, physical activity and motor skills for pre-school-aged children in Finland

In recent years, we have got more information on physical activity and motor skills of preschool-aged children in Finland. However, national monitoring system for this age groups is still lacking in Finland like in many other European countries too. This presentation describes the process and recent results of an on-going research and development project JOYPAM - monitoring the joy of motion, physical activity and motor skills for pre-school-aged children. Aim of the project is to co-create, test and recommend a national level monitoring system by the end of 2020. nonPeerReviewed

Physical play - How do we inspire and motivate young children to be physically active through play? An international analysis of twelve countries’ national early years curriculum policies and practices for physical activity and physical play

Lifelong movement and physical activity (PA) patterns develop during early childhood. Therefore, educators (teachers and practitioners) in early childhood education and care (ECEC) should provide opportunities to support children’s play, PA, and movement development. The World Health Organization (2019) offers new recommendations for PA, for children under five years. The guidelines do not specify the ways ECEC staff can support PA through play. Therefore, this paper investigates, how physical play (PP) is enacted globally. An international policy and practice analysis of twelve countries, (Australia [Victoria], Belgium [Flanders], Canada [Alberta], China, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Portugal,…

Muscle Inactivity and Activity Patterns after Sedentary-Time Targeted Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: Interventions targeting sedentary time are needed. We used detailed EMG recordings to study the short-term effectiveness of simple sedentary time-targeted tailored counseling on the total physical activity spectrum. Methods: This cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted between 2011 and 2013 (InPact, ISRCTN28668090), and short-term effectiveness of counseling is reported in the present study. A total of 133 office workers volunteered to participate, from which muscle activity data were analyzed from 48 (intervention, n = 24; control, n = 24). After a lecture, face-to-face tailored counseling was used to set contractually binding goals regarding breaking up sitting periods …

Socioecological correlates of perceived motor competence in 5- to 7-year-old Finnish children

We investigated child, family, and environmental factors associated with young children's perceptions of locomotor (LM) and object control (OC) skills. The participants comprised 472 children (6.22 ± 0.63) and their parents. The children were assessed for their perception of motor competence in LM and OC skills (using the pictorial scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence for young children), and actual motor competence (Test of Gross Motor Development 3rd edition and Körperkoordinationstest Für Kinder). Anthropometrics were calculated using the children's body mass index standard deviation scores. A parent questionnaire included questions about child factors (sex, child's independent w…

Parental Support and Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Children : A Yearlong Cluster-Randomized Controlled Efficacy Trial

Purpose: We studied whether physical activity (PA) counseling for parents influenced the level of parental support of children’s PA and leisure-time PA in children of different levels of initial parental support. We hypothesized that the initial level of parental support would moderate the intervention efficacy. Method: Children (n = 44, Mage = 6.09 ± 1.17 years) and their parents (n = 61) randomly assigned to an intervention group received counseling for 6 months. Children in the control group (n = 47, Mage = 6.12 ± 1.11 years) and their parents (n = 63) did not receive any counseling. Parental support was assessed using the Family Physical Activity Environment Questionnaire, and children’…

Arjen pienet valinnat kartuttavat perheen liikuntaa

Comparing the physical activity patterns of 3-year-old Finnish and Australian children during childcare and homecare days

AbstractLimited previous research has contrasted physical activity (PA) patterns in preschool children across different hourly patterns or segments of day, or adopted similar methodologies to compare the PA behaviors of children from different countries. The purpose of this study was to examine how the PA levels and patterns differed between 3- year-olds within and between childcare and homecare days in Finland and Australia.ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers were used to monitor 121 (80 Finnish, 41 Australian) children’s PA for five consecutive days.No significant country differences were observed in children’s daily total PA (light-tovigorous PA [LMVPA]), except that during childcare days Finn…

A family based tailored counselling to increase non-exercise physical activity in adults with a sedentary job and physical activity in their young children: design and methods of a year-long randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Epidemiological evidence suggests that decrease in sedentary behaviour is beneficial for health. This family based randomized controlled trial examines whether face-to-face delivered counselling is effective in reducing sedentary time and improving health in adults and increasing moderate-to-vigorous activities in children. Methods The families are randomized after balancing socioeconomic and environmental factors in the Jyväskylä region, Finland. Inclusion criteria are: healthy men and women with children 3-8 years old, and having an occupation where they self-reportedly sit more than 50% of their work time and children in all-day day-care in kindergarten or in the firs…

Kasvu, sukupuolinen kypsyminen ja kehitys sekä niiden merkitys liikuntatieteissä

Kasvu sekä sukupuolinen kypsyminen ja kehitys ovat keskeisiä käsitteitä kaikissa lapsia ja nuoria käsittelevissä tutkimuksissa sekä lasten ja nuorten fyysisen aktiivisuuden seurannassa ja urheiluvalmennuksessa. Kasvun sekä sukupuolisen kypsymisen ja kehityksen seurauksena eri elinjärjestelmissä tapahtuu muutoksia, jotka vaikuttavat fyysisiin ominaisuuksiin ja niiden kehittymiseen fyysisen aktiivisuuden seurauksena (Armstrong ja van Mechelen 2017). Fyysinen aktiivisuus voi vaikuttaa myös kasvuun sekä sukupuoliseen kypsymiseen ja kehitykseen – joko negatiivisesti tai positiivisesti. nonPeerReviewed

A Comparison of Physical Activity Levels in Childcare Contexts among Finnish and Dutch 3-Year-Olds

The aim of the current study was to determine Finnish and Dutch three-year-old preschool children’s physical activity (PA) levels and how levels vary across gender, location, time of day and social contexts in both countries. A modified version of the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Preschool (OSRAC-P) was used to measure children’s PA levels and contextual variables (e.g. group composition, prompts) of children attending childcare centres in Finland and the Netherlands. In total, 90 Finnish children (46 boys and 44 girls) and 97 Dutch children (46 boys and 51 girls) were observed. Three-level linear regression analyses with cross level interactions were use…

Sports didactics : The shift towards pedagogical framework in Finland

The teaching of physical education (PE) to educators in Finland has shifted from didactic techniques focusing on teachers’ actions towards more holistic pedagogy that questions how pupils learn. These changes can be seen in physical education teacher education (PETE) and study books and in the development of PE curriculums for basic education. The national curriculum for basic education changes approximately every ten years and, recently, the national learning outcomes of PE of the two previous curriculums were evaluated. Reflecting on these learning outcomes, the latest research results and feedback from PE teachers, the groundwork for the latest PE curriculum was laid out. The objectives …

Studies using the körperkoordinationstest für (ktk): A review

Introduction When encouraging children to active lifestyle, a suitable test for the gross motor coordination, specifically mastering of fundamental motor skills, is of great use. To evaluate and choose a suitable test for different purposes it is important to know its usage in different settings. The Korperkoordinationstest fur Kinder (KTK) [1] is a test, which mainly focuses on gross motor coordination of both normal and impaired children. The KTK is quite simple and quick to administer, the same items cover all age groups (5–15 years). This study aims to introduce the KTK's usage on a basis of literature review. Specifically, the aim is to extract information on KTK's pros, cons and sugge…

Movement and physical activity in early childhood education and care policies of five nordic countries

The purpose of this study was to examine the values of movement and physical activity (MoPA) using government policy documents (e.g., laws and curricula) on early childhood education and care (ECEC) from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. This descriptive, comparative study was designed based on curriculum theory and used word count and content analyses to identify similarities and differences in the occurrence of MoPA in the ECEC policies of Nordic countries. Seven terms were identified as MoPA-related in Nordic policy documents. These terms occurred in various content contexts: development, environment, expression, health and well-being, learning and play, albeit sparsely. MoP…

Viisivuotinen koulutus luo pohjan liikunnanopettajaksi kasvamiselle

Käytännön opetusharjoittelut ovat kiinteä osa liikunnanopettajakoulutusta ja tukevat opiskelijoiden ammatillista kehittymistä. Harjoittelun kanssa yhtäaikainen opetusfilosofian työstäminen täydentää oppimiskokemusta tarjoamalla väylän oman toiminnan reflektointiin. nonPeerReviewed

Seasonal and daily variation in physical activity among three-year-old Finnish preschool children

The purposes of this study were to assess seasonal, daily, and gender variations in children’s physical activity (PA). ActiGraph GT3X accelerometers were used to record the three-year-old children’s PA levels for five consecutive days in autumn and winter. Complete data for both seasons were obtained for 47 children. Despite a significant difference in seasonal temperatures (p < .001), differences were only found for weekdays light PA (p = .021). No difference in PA was observed between weekdays and weekend days. Only 20% of the sample had ≥120 minutes light-to-vigorous PA (LMVPA), and 46% of children had ≥60 minutes moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Boys spent more minutes in LMVPA (p = .001…

Uusi suositus lapsille ja nuorille : tunti päivässä liikkumista

Uudistunut liikkumissuositus lapsille ja nuorille suosittaa kaikille 7−17-vuotiaille monipuolista, reipasta ja rasittavaa liikkumista vähintään 60 minuuttia päivässä yksilölle sopivalla tavalla, ikä huomioiden. Runsasta ja pitkäkestoista paikallaanoloa tulee välttää. nonPeerReviewed

3-4 -vuotiaiden lasten fyysinen aktiivisuus päiväkodissa eri vuodenaikoina sekä varhaiskasvattajan kannustuksen yhteys lasten fyysiseen aktiivisuuteen

Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää 3-4-vuotiaiden lasten fyysisen aktiivisuuden intensiteetin eroja päiväkodissa eri vuodenaikoina sekä varhaiskasvattajan kannustuksen yhteyttä lasten fyysiseen aktiivisuuteen. Tutkimusjoukko muodostui päiväkotien vuonna 2007 syntyneistä vapaaehtoisista lapsista. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin havainnoimalla OSRAC-P -havainnointimenetelmän avulla 14 päiväkodissa tammi-helmikuussa (N 94) sekä elo-syyskuussa (N 118) vuonna 2011. Lasten fyysinen aktiivisuus oli pääosan ajasta (noin 60 %) intensiteetiltään erittäin kevyttä. Intensiteetiltään vähintään keskiraskaan fyysisen aktiivisuuden esiintyvyys oli noin 10 %. Vuodenajalla oli erittäin merkitsevä yhtey…

Trajectories of motor coordination in 4–7-years-old children: A latent growth curve analysis

Introduction For being able to take part in physical activities typical to the given age, children need proficiency in several motor tasks. Gross motor coordination (MC) is a basis for executing motor tasks and for learning new movement patterns. This study aimed to identify different MC trajectories in children aged 4–7-years-old. Methods Motor coordination of children ( n  = 94, mean age 6.1 ± 1.3 years at baseline) was measured at 0, 6 and 12 months by KTK-test battery [1] . To identify different MC trajectories, developmental trend of the mean score of KTK was analyzed by using a latent growth curve and growth mixture analysis. Results In general, MC developed significantly over the yea…

Body mass index in the early years in relation to motor coordination at the age of 5–7 years

Physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI) are consistently associated with motor coordination (MC) in children. However, we know very little how BMI in early childhood associates with MC later in childhood. This study investigated associations between BMI in early childhood and BMI, PA, and MC in middle childhood. Children aged 5 to 7 years (n = 64, 32 girls) were measured for MC using Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) and for moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) using triaxial accelerometers. Prevailing body weight and height were measured, and information on weight and height in early years was based on parental report of child health care report cards. Age-adjusted BMIz scores we…

Socioecological correlates of perceived motor competence in 5- to 7-year-old Finnish children

We investigated child, family, and environmental factors associated with young children’s perceptions of locomotor (LM) and object control (OC) skills. The participants comprised 472 children (6.22 ± 0.63) and their parents. The children were assessed for their perception of motor competence in LM and OC skills (using the pictorial scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence for young children), and actual motor competence (Test of Gross Motor Development 3rd edition and Körperkoordinationstest Für Kinder). Anthropometrics were calculated using the children’s body mass index standard deviation scores. A parent questionnaire included questions about child factors (sex, child’s independent w…

Screen media and non-screen media habits among preschool children in Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and Finland: Insights from an unsupervised clustering approach.

The main purpose of the research was to describe the daily screen media habits and non-screen media habits like indoor and outdoor play, and sleep of preschool children aged 2 to 6 years from Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and Finland using a content-validated online questionnaire (SMALLQ®) and unsupervised cluster analysis. Unsupervised cluster analysis on 5809 parent-reported weekday and weekend screen and non-screen media habits of preschool children from the four countries resulted in seven emergent clusters. Cluster 2 ( n = 1288) or the Early-screen media, screen media-lite and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity-lite family made up 22.2% and Cluster 1 ( n = 261) or the High-all-ro…

Comparison of Classroom-Based Sedentary Time and Physical Activity in Conventional Classrooms and Open Learning Spaces Among Elementary School Students

European children and adolescents spend most of their daily life and especially their school hours being sedentary which may increase their risk for chronic non-communicable diseases later in life. After the curriculum reform of Finnish basic education in 2014, most of the new or renovated comprehensive schools in Finland incorporate open and flexible classroom designs. Their open learning spaces may provide students opportunities to reduce sedentary behavior during school hours. Thus, waist-worn accelerometers were used to assess classroom-based sedentary time (ST), the number of breaks from sedentary time (BST), and physical activity (PA) among cross-sectional samples of 3rd and 5th grade…

Liikunnan arviointi perusopetuksen opetussuunnitelmassa

Vaikka monissa kouluissa jo tällä hetkelläkin arvioidaan kannustavasti, valtakunnallisesti päättöarvioinnin yhtenäisyydessä on parantamisen varaa. Yhdenmukainen arviointi on oppilaiden oikeusturvan mukaista. Tässä artikkelissa esitellään liikunnan arvioinnin uusia kriteereitä ja annetaan muutamia käytännön esimerkkejä arvioinnista. nonPeerReviewed

Fundamental movement skill proficiency and body composition measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry in eight-year-old children

Objective: The main aim was to examine the association between fundamental movement skills (FMS) and objectively measured body composition using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: Study of 304 eight-year-old children in Finland. FMS were assessed with the Test of Gross Motor Development, 2nd ed. (TGMD-2). Total body fat percentage (BF%), abdominal region fat percentage (AF%), and fat-free mass (FFM) were assessed by DXA. Waist circumference, height and weight were measured and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-off values for BMI were used for the definition of healthy weight and overweight/obesity. Results: Better FMS proficiency (object-control, locomotor, total FMS…

Associations among Basic Psychological Needs, Motivation and Enjoyment within Finnish Physical Education Students

The purpose of this study was to analyse the associations between basic psychological needs, motivational regulations and enjoyment within Finnish physical education (PE) students. The participants of the study were 260 Grade 5 students (Mage=11.86, SD=0.28) and 242 Grade 8 students (Mage=14.93, SD=0.37) who completed a questionnaire prior to their regular PE classes. This cross-sectional study incorporated a multigroup structural equation modelling (SEM, path model) separately for Grade 5 and 8 students, using gender as a grouping value. Results indicated that among Grade 5 students autonomy was directly associated with enjoyment. In addition, there was an indirect path from autonomy to en…

Fundamental movement skills and weight status in children: A systematic review

Background Obesity has become a major health challenge in children. Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are suggested to have an important role for being physically active and decreasing the risk of obesity. This systematic review aimed to give an overview of studies providing evidence for a relationship between FMS and the weight status in children. Material/Methods A systematic search of five electronic databases (MEDLINE (PubMed), SportDiscus, ERIC, PsycInfo and SCOPUS) was conducted in January 2015. Studies examining associations between FMS and weight status in children aged 3–12 years were included. Results The final sample included 12 cross-sectional studies. Seven studies found statis…

Correlates of physical activity parenting : The Skilled Kids study

We examined the relationship between physical activity parenting (PAP) and child, family, and environmental factors in families. The participants were 840 families with young children (n = 993; 5.40 ± 1.14 years) and parents (n = 993; 35.8 ± 5.29 years). Parents' self‐reported PAP (co‐participation, (in)direct support, and encouragement), child‐specific (sex, age, temperament, outdoor time, organized physical activity or sports, sedentary time, media time, PA enjoyment, motor skills compared to peers, PA, and sport facility use), family‐specific (respondent's sex, age, education, exercise frequency, family income, family status, number of children in the family, child's birth order and part…

Liikunnan päättöarvioinnin kriteerit

Meeting the WHO 24-h guidelines among 2–6-year-old children by family socioeconomic status before and during the COVID-19 pandemic : a repeated cross-sectional study

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed guidelines for 24-h physical activity (PA), sedentary behaviour and sleep for young children. Lower socioeconomic status (SES) has been linked to a lower likelihood of meeting these guidelines. The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) raised concerns about young children’s opportunities to meet the guidelines. The study focused on the prevalence of meeting the WHO’s 24-h guidelines on screen time (ST), PA and sleep among 2–6-year-old children, in association with family SES, before COVID-19 outbreak in 2019, and during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 in Finland. Methods Data were collected at three timepoints by an o…

Finnish Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions of Perceived Competence in Early Childhood Physical Education

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) teachers have a central role in supporting young children’s physical activity (PA) and overall development in the early years. However, the value of early childhood education teacher training (ECETT) programmes is not widely understood. This study aimed to investigate pre-service teachers’ perceptions of perceived competence when (1) supporting a child’s PA, (2) teaching PE, and (3) observing and assessing a child’s motor skills and PA. These self-evaluations were compared with a range of individual, educational, and behavioural characteristics. Final-year Bachelor degree pre-service teachers (n = 274

Sedentary Thresholds for Accelerometry-Based Mean Amplitude Deviation and Electromyography Amplitude in 7–11 Years Old Children

We investigated the ability of energy expenditure, movement sensing, and muscle activity to discriminate sedentary and non-sedentary activities in children. Thirty-five 7–11-year-old children participated in the study. Simultaneous assessment of oxygen uptake (V̇O2), triaxial accelerometry, and thigh muscle electromyography (EMG) were performed during eight different sedentary and non-sedentary activities including lying down, sitting-, standing-, and walking-related activities, which were performed in a random order. Mean values of V̇O2, accelerometry, and EMG from the concurrent 2 min epochs during each activity were computed. Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured during 30 min su…

Motoristen taitojen ja lihasvoiman vuorovaikutus lapsuudessa ja nuoruudessa

Lasten motoriset taidot ja lihasvoima eivät kehity perimän määrittämään täyteen potentiaaliinsa ilman mahdollisuuksia harjoitella liikkumista erilaisissa ympäristöissä ja tilanteissa. Suurin osa varhais- ja keskilapsuuden motorisia taitoja ja lihasvoimaa kehittävästä toiminnasta on omaehtoista ja vapaata leikinomaista fyysistä aktiivisuutta. nonPeerReviewed

Outdoor activities and motor development in 2–7-year-old boys and girls

Problem Statement: Parents of young children favor indoor activities for their children, because staying inside supports comfortable daily routines in the family timetable, safety issues and clothing. However, playing outdoors supports children’s development, offering multiple challenges to overcome and the possibility to learn new skills. Approach: Based on Gibson’s theory of affordances (1977), outdoors can be seen as an excellent learning environment for children to reach the zone of proximal development (Vygotsky, 1987). Purpose: This paper describes Finnish nature and four seasons as an environment to support children’s motor development and inspire outdoor playing. The Skilled kids pa…

Physically active play in the early years

Babies have an inborn drive to be physically active, which serves as a necessary moderator for their development. Young children discover and learn new skills through movement, and this important bond between physical activity and development continues as children grow older. Babies are driven to be physically active, and this innate drive is a key aspect of development. Without this drive, babies would be content simply to have their basic needs met, such as feeding, hygiene, and interaction with another person. Consecutive learning moments create the foundation for overall development, and sensory stimulation and bodily movements combined with cognitive challenges form the basis for react…

Longitudinal Associations of Fitness, Motor Competence, and Adiposity with Cognition

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), motor competence (MC), and body fat percentage (BF%) with cognition in children. Methods: Altogether, 371 children (188 boys and 183 girls) 6–9 yr of age at baseline participated in this 2-yr follow-up study. We assessed CRF by maximal cycle ergometer test, computed the MC score from the z-scores of the 50-m shuttle run, static balance, and box and block test results, measured BF% by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and assessed cognition using the Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) score. The associations were studied by linear regression analysis and repeated-…

Classroom-based physical activity and teachers’ instructions on students’ movement in conventional classrooms and open learning spaces

AbstractAs a result of educational reforms in many countries, including Finland, new or renovated comprehensive schools have increasingly begun to incorporate open and flexible designs and principles. Multipurpose and adaptable open learning spaces can provide children with amplified opportunities to be physically active during general education. Classroom-based physical activity has been associated with better academic-related outcomes and students’ on-task behaviour, while overall physical activity has been associated with better health. In the present study, we investigated the effects of classroom type, gender and grade level on classroom-based physical activity, and the associations be…

Fyysinen aktiivisuus ja ravitsemus lasten terveyden edistämisessä - tavoitteena lihavuuden, tyypin 2 diabeteksen ja valtimotautien ehkäisy.

Movement and physical activity in early childhood education and care in the Nordic countries

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges the importance of preschool children taking part in comprehensive physical activities supporting, among other things, their motor development, and competencies. A growing number of children attend early childhood education and care (ECEC), and expectations that this will support the development and learning of the youngest children are high. ECEC are governed by different policies embodied in both laws and curricula, and the framework of a curriculum plays a key role in ensuring the quality of ECEC services. The documents represent the content society wants the ECEC institutions to disseminate, and set out the values, objectives, a…

Nyljetty liikunta?

Plenary conference: Keys to successful physical activity during childhood

Introduction Based on different theories of dynamic systems, children's development occurs through interaction between their genes, their physical and socio-emotional environment, and the amount and quality of earlier experiences. The amount of physical activity (PA) has been recognized as one very important mediator in supporting young children's physical growth and overall development. Moreover, PA has been shown to effect children's daily well-being and health [1] . Children are physically active through their play. When children engage in physically active play, they use their whole body with all their senses and large muscles. Through playing children learn to feel their body, recogniz…

Directly Observed Physical Activity and Fundamental Motor Skills in Four-Year-Old Children in Day Care

Physical activity (PA), its location, social interactions and fundamental motor skills (FMS) were investigated in four-year-old Finnish children in day care. Six skills in the stability, locomotor and manipulative domains were assessed in 53 children (24 boys, 29 girls, normal anthropometry) with the APM-Inventory manual for assessing children’s perceptual and FMS and Total Motor Scores (TMS; 0–6 points) calculated. PA intensity, location, group composition and activity type − sitting, squatting, kneeling − were directly observed with a modified version of the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children – Preschool Version (OSRAC – P) during three consecutive days in 14…

Preschool children's fundamental motor skills: a review of significant determinants

Fundamental motor skills (FMS) affect children's physical, social, and cognitive development. To plan successful interventions when promoting the development of children's FMS, the underlying positive determinants for the acquisition of FMS competence during preschool years need to be identified. The purpose of this systematic review was to identify positive determinants of FMS such as stability, locomotor, and manipulative movements in children between the ages of three and six. Five electronic databases (ERIC, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and Physical Education Index) were used for the systematic search and in our final analysis there were 29 articles. Four categories of determinants w…

School PE through Internet discussion forums

Background: Physical education is a subject that generates strong feelings and emotions, as can be seen in written accounts of PE experiences. It is also important to listen to students' voices in the research context. Nowadays, students can be listened to in a new way – through the Internet. Various discussion forums on the Internet make it possible for people to express themselves through real or imagined messages. It might be easier to express highly sensitive and even intimate thoughts on the Internet. Thus, the Internet might be an interesting open forum for teachers to think about new ways of developing teaching practices that would reduce negative experiences of PE.Purpose: The purpo…

The relationships among motivational climate, perceived competence, physical performance, and affects during physical education fitness testing lessons

Despite the prominence of fitness testing in school physical education (PE), there is a sparsity of research examining the antecedents of students’ affective experiences during fitness testing lessons. This study aimed to investigate the associations among task- and ego-involving motivational climates, perceived physical competence, physical performance, enjoyment, and anxiety during two different types of PE fitness testing lessons. Altogether, 645 Finnish students from Grade 5 (50% boys, Mage = 11.2, SD = 0.36) and Grade 8 (47% boys, Mage = 14.2, SD = 0.35) participated in two fitness testing lessons with different content (lesson 1: 20-meter shuttle run test and a test of flexibility; l…

A review of studies using the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK)

The Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) (Kiphard & Schilling, 1974, 2007) is a standardized, norm-referenced measure used by physical therapists and occupational therapists in clinic and school practice settings to evaluate the motor coordination (MC) of 5- to 14-year-old children. To find out for which research purposes the KTK has been used and its reliability and validity, we conducted a systematic review. Searching five databases, we found 46 studies used the KTK over four decades. The KTK was widely used in Europe in children with typical and atypical development. The KTK was used to investigate associations, to test the effects of interventions and treatments, to identify or diag…

Tanssinharrastajien kokema voimaantuminen eri kulttuureista lähtöisin olevissa tanssimuodoissa

Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää kehofenomenologian näkökulmasta tanssinharrastajien kokemuksia eri kulttuureista lähtöisin olevista tanssimuodoista: länsiafrikkalaisista tansseista, itämaisesta tanssista ja flamencosta. Tutkimukseen osallistui 36 tanssinharrastajaa. He olivat iältään 11–70-vuotiaita ja olivat harrastaneet tanssimuotoaan 4–20 vuotta. Tanssinharrastajat kirjoittivat kokemuspäiväkirjaa tanssimisen kokemuksistaan kuudella tanssitunnilla kolmen kuukauden aikana. Heille annetut ohjeet pohjautuivat fenomenologiseen lähestymistapaan perustuvaan van Manenin (2003) kehittämään kirjoittamisen tapaan. Aineiston analyysi tapahtui seuraamalla kahta fenomenologisen metodologian ke…

Cognitive and Academic Outcomes of Fundamental Motor Skill and Physical Activity Interventions Designed for Children with Special Educational Needs: A Systematic Review

This systematic review aimed to investigate the methodological quality and the effects of fundamental motor skills and physical activity interventions on cognitive and academic skills in 3- to 7-year-old children with special educational needs. The review was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) statement. A literature search was carried out in April 2020 (updated in January 2022) using seven electronic databases, including ERIC, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed with Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) Quality Asses…

The effects of motor skill and physical activity interventions on preschoolers' cognitive and academic skills: A systematic review

The present systematic review aimed to investigate the methodological quality and the effects of fundamental motor skills and physical activity interventions on cognitive and academic skills in typically developing 3 to 7-year-old children. The review was conducted and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. A literature search was carried out in April 2020 using seven electronic databases. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed with the Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) Quality Assessment Tool. Cohen's d effect size calculations and post hoc power analyses were conducted for the in…

Face and Content Validity of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence in Young Children

An international group of experts have developed a pictorial tool to measure perceived water competence for children aged from 5 to 8 years old: the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Water Competence (PSPWC). The aim of the present study was to verify the validity of this tool. In the first part of the study, 120 children were interviewed to investigate face validity of the PSPWC to ensure that all pictorial items were understandable. In the second part of the study, 13 scientific and/or pedagogical international experts were invited to assess the tool&rsquo;s content validity via an online survey. Face validity results revealed that children were able to understand and sequence correctly the aq…

Construct validity and reliability of the physical activity parenting questionnaire for children (PAP-C)

Background Children’s perception of parenting is hypothesised to significantly affect their physical activity (PA). This study aimed to examine construct validity, factorial invariance and reliability of a new tool: Physical Activity Parenting questionnaire for Children (PAP-C). Methods PAP-C comprised 22 items hypothesised to cover 3 theory-guided factors of physical activity parenting (PAP)—namely, structure for activity, autonomy support and involvement. Construct validity and internal consistency of PAP-C were tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and composite reliability in a sample of Finnish first, second- and third graders (n = 456; mean age 8.77 ± 0.84 years, girls 51.1%…

Children's Types of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Day Care Environment during Outdoor Play over the Course of Four Seasons in Finland

A socio-ecological approach to physical activity interventions in childcare: a systematic review

The promotion of physical activity (PA) in young children requires effective interventions. This article reviews the evidence on PA interventions in childcare by applying a socio-ecological approach. A computer-based literature search for intervention studies aimed at increasing children's PA levels was run across four databases: SPORTDiscus, ISI Web of Science, PsycINFO and ERIC. The participants had to be in childcare, aged 2-6-year-old, and their pre- and post- intervention PA levels measured. Selection was restricted to peer-reviewed publications and to studies conducted in childcare settings. Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and their methodological quality was assessed.…

What makes John move? Outdoor play physical environmental factors changing a child’s activity from sedentary to physically active: longitudinal mixed-method case study

Children’s low physical activity levels call for an investigation of what can promote activity for excessively sedentary children. The purpose of this longitudinal mixed-method case study in an early childhood education (ECE) environment was to observe one sedentary child’s free outdoor playtime in four seasons and determine the physical environmental factors changing his activity from sedentary to physically active. Systematic observation of video material and quantitative analysis were used to identify the most sedentary individual of the one ECE group. The child was named “John”. Qualitative analysis of John’s video material showed that during the four seasons he spent an average of 25% …

Kolmevuotiaiden päiväkotilasten mitattu fyysinen aktiivisuus

Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää kolmevuotiaiden lasten fyysisen aktiivisuuden määrä ja intensiteetti sekä selvittää täyttyvätkö alle kouluikäisten Varhaiskasvatuksen liikunnan suositukset (2005) kahden tunnin reippaasta päivittäisestä liikunnasta tutkimukseen osallistuvilla lapsilla. Tutkimuksessa vertailtiin myös poikien ja tyttöjen sekä arki- ja viikonlopun päivien välisiä eroja. Aineisto kerättiin 14 vapaaehtoisesta päiväkodista elokuusta lokakuuhun 2010. Lasten fyysinen aktiivisuus mitattiin ActiGraph GT3Xkiihtyvyysmittareilla viiden peräkkäisen päivän ajan. Hyväksyttävä aineisto, vähintään kahdeksan tuntia mittausta kolmena arkipäivänä ja yhtenä viikonlopun päivänä, saati…

A scalable school‐based intervention to increase early adolescents' motor competence and health‐related fitness

Schools are key settings for the promotion of students' physical activity, fitness, and motor competence. The purpose of our study was to investigate the efficacy of a 5-month-long intervention program that aimed to increase students' motor competence and health-related fitness during school days. We conducted a quasi-experimental study with 325 Finnish Grade 5 (Mage = 11.26, SD = 0.33) students from five schools. Two schools were allocated to the intervention group and three schools to the control group. The intervention consisted of three components: (a) weekly 20 min session during regular PE lessons, (b) weekly 20 min session during recess, and (c) daily 5-minute-long classroom activity…

Päiväkotien liikuntaolosuhteiden yhteys lasten motorisiin taitoihin

Lasten fyysisellä ympäristöllä ja liikkumisen mahdollisuuksilla on yhteyttä lasten fyysisen aktiivisuuden kokonaismäärään. Siihen liittyy myös lasten motoristen taitojen taso. Tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää päiväkotien liikuntaolosuhteiden yhteyttä lasten motorisiin taitoihin. Tutkimukseen valittiin eri puolilta Suomea satunnaistetulla ryväsotannalla 37 päiväkotia. Satunnaistamisessa huomioitiin päiväkodin maantieteellinen sijainti sekä asukastiheys. Päiväkotien johtajat kuvasivat päiväkotinsa liikuntaolosuhteita suomalaiseen varhaiskasvatusympäristöön suunnitellulla kyselylomakkeella. Tutkimuspäiväkodeista yhteensä 1136 lapsen (tyttöjä 572; poikia 564, ikä 2–7-vuotta) motori…

Associations of Classroom Design and Classroom-Based Physical Activity with Behavioral and Emotional Engagement among Primary School Students

Educational reforms worldwide have resulted in schools increasingly incorporating open and flexible classroom designs. Open learning spaces may contribute to a student’s behavioral and emotional school engagement directly and by facilitating classroom-based physical activity (CPA). We investigated the associations between accelerometer-assessed CPA and student ratings of task-focused behavior and attitude towards school as indicators for behavioral and emotional engagement, respectively, with the associations of gender, grade, and classroom design on CPA among 206 3rd and 5th grade students in open learning spaces and conventional classrooms. Structural equation modelling showed open classr…

Move! kartuttaa arvokasta trenditietoa

Syksyllä 2019 tehtyjen Move! -mittausten tulokset kertovat hyvää ja huonoa koululaisten fyysisestä toimintakyvystä. Kestävyyskunto on heikentynyt viidesluokkalaisilla ja on kahdella viidestä vaatimaton. Lisäksi Etelä-Suomen lapset ja nuoret ovat itä- ja pohjoissuomalaisia ikätovereitaan paremmassa kestävyyskunnossa. Lihaskunnossa näkyy sen sijaan merkkejä paremmasta. nonPeerReviewed

Deliberate Play and Preparation Jointly Benefit Motor and Cognitive Development: Mediated and Moderated Effects

In light of the interrelation between motor and cognitive development and the predictive value of the former for the latter, the secular decline observed in motor coordination ability as early as preschool urges identification of interventions that may jointly impact motor and cognitive efficiency. The aim of this study was twofold. It (1) explored the outcomes of enriched physical education, centered on deliberate play and cognitively challenging variability of practice, on motor coordination and cognitive processing; (2) examined whether motor coordination outcomes mediate intervention effects on children’s cognition, while controlling for moderation by lifestyle factors as outdoor play h…

Promoting physical activity in Finnish early childhood education and care, and the implementation of national recommendations of physical activity for early childhood

Joy in Motion is a nationwide physical activity and well-being programme aimed at early childhood education and care (ECEC) launched in 2015 in Finland. The aim is to enable every child to be physically active and enjoy physical activity every day. Latest updates of the Finnish recommendations for physical activity in early childhood was published in 2016. The key message in the recommendations is Joy, play and doing together. Daily physical activity is just as important for children's well-being as healthy nutrition and sufficient sleep and rest. Presentations discuss the current state of the programme with more than 2200 registered early education units and provides concrete examples of t…

The effect of the cluster randomized HIPPA intervention on childcare children’s overall physical activity

Background The effect of the cluster randomized Home- and childcare-based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity (HIPPA) intervention on the everyday physical activity (PA) of children between the ages of 4 to 5 years was evaluated. Material/Methods Fourteen childcare centers with 102 children born in 2007 and their families participated in the study. HIPPA was implemented over a single preschool year in seven childcare centers while seven other centers continued their normal care (control group, CG). The PA levels of children were assessed by accelerometers six times every six months during two and a half years of research. Valid PA data were obtained from 69 children at baseline and an…

Accelerometer-assessed sedentary work, leisure time and cardio-metabolic biomarkers during one year : Effectiveness of a cluster randomized controlled trial in parents with a sedentary occupation and young children

BackgroundIt is unknown whether reducing sedentary time at work and during leisure time is possible and effective during one year.MethodsOffice workers with young children were recruited for this one-year cluster-randomized controlled trial through kindergartens and primary schools from 7 clusters in the city of Jyväskylä, Finland. After a lecture, face-to-face tailored counseling was used to set contractually binding goals regarding reducing and breaking up sitting periods and increasing light intensity physical activity during work and leisure time. Primary outcomes of total, work and leisure sedentary time (ResultsParticipants from intervention (N = 71) and control (N = 62) regions were …

Student’s voice online: Experiences of PE in Finnish schools

The aim of this descriptive study was to find out how people describe their experiences of physical education (PE) in Internet discussion forums. The data for this study were collected during one randomly chosen week in April 2007 via a GoogleTM search using the Finnish word ‘koululiikunta’ [school PE]. The first 200 hits lead into nine discussion forums, which were analysed by using qualitative content analysis. These nine discussion forums included all together 356 messages. For searching these discussion forums no criteria about the writers’ age, race, class, gender or other were set. The messages were coded with sequential classification and grouped into positive, negative and both posi…

Adiposity, physical activity and neuromuscular performance in children

We investigated the associations of body fat percentage, objectively assessed moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and different types of physical activity assessed by a questionnaire with neuromuscular performance. The participants were 404 children aged 6–8 years. Body fat percentage (BF%) was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and physical activity by combined heart rate and movement sensing and a questionnaire. The results of 50-metre shuttle run, 15-metre sprint run, hand grip strength, standing long jump, sit-up, modified flamingo balance, box and block, and sit-and-reach tests were used as measures of neuromuscular performance. Children who had a combination of…

Reliability Assessment of Scores from Video-Recorded TGMD-3 Performances

This study examined the intrarater and interrater reliability of the Test of Gross Motor Development—3rd Edition (TGMD-3). Participants were 60 Finnish children aged between 3 and 9 years, divided into three separate samples of 20. Two samples of 20 were used to examine the intrarater reliability of two different assessors, and the third sample of 20 was used to establish interrater reliability. Children’s TGMD-3 performances were video-recorded and later assessed using an intraclass correlation coefficient, a kappa statistic, and a percent agreement calculation. The intrarater reliability of the locomotor subtest, ball skills subtest, and gross motor total score ranged from 0.69 to 0.77, a…

Liikuntaintervention vaikutus 3-7-vuotiaiden lasten fyysiseen aktiivisuuteen ja motorisiin taitoihin sekä fyysisen aktiivisuuden yhteys sydän- ja verisuonitautien riskitekijöihin

Sääkslahti selvitti väitöskirjatutkimuksessaan runsaaseen ulkoliikuntaan kannustavan liikuntaohjelman vaikutuksia 3-7-vuotiaiden lasten liikunnan määrään ja perustaitoihin. Lisäksi hän tarkasteli liikunnan määrän ja laadun yhteyttä sepelvaltimotaudin riskitekijöihin.Lapset tarvitsevat liikuntaa kasvaakseen ja kehittyäkseen. Hyvin pitkään oletettiin, että lapset liikkuvat ja leikkivät riittävästi. 1990-luvun aikana erilaiset tietotekniset laitteet ja pelit alkoivat kilpailla lasten huomiosta ja ajankäytöstä. Hyvin suuri osa lasten ns. vapaista leikeistä on aikaisemmin ollut erilaisia kasvua ja kehitystä tukevia liikuntaleikkejä. 2000-luvun alussa tilanne kuitenkin on muuttunut. Ajankäytön mu…

Directly Observed Physical Activity among 3-Year-Olds in Finnish Childcare

The main purpose of the study was to determine 3-year-olds’ physical activity levels and how these vary across season, gender, time of day, location, and the physical and social environment in childcare settings in Finland. A modified version of the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Preschool (OSRAC-P) was used to measure physical activity levels and contextual variables (e.g., group composition, prompts) of children attending childcare centres. In total, 81 children (42 boys and 39 girls) were observed in autumn and in winter. Three-level linear regression analyses were used to assess differences between the seasons in the association between the context vari…

Cultures in Dialogue: Perceptions and Experiences of Finnish Teachers of Transnational Dances

This article is based on a phenomenographic study that focuses on identifying the pedagogical conceptions of Finnish teachers of transnational dances. The purpose is to uncover and understand teachers' conceptions concerning the implications of the cultural contexts of their specific dance forms for their pedagogical practices. Through a process of phenomenographic data analysis, the authors have identified three different ways to understand teachers' conceptions and experiences: (1) Dance as a path towards personal expression, (2) Telling a story of being a woman through dance, and (3) Self-approval and the collective nature of dance. The study aims at facilitating discussion about the pro…

“It Is Like Compulsory to Go, but It Is still pretty Nice”: Young Children’s Views on Physical Activity Parenting and the Associated Motivational Regulation

Physical activity parenting (PAP) is consistently correlated with children’s physical activity (PA). Children’s perception of PAP has garnered little attention given that it mediates the relationship between PAP and child PA outcomes. This study aimed to examine 7–10-year-old children’s perspectives on PAP practices and how they relate to their motivational regulation of PA. A total of 79 children 7–10 years of age participated in 19 semi-structured focus group interviews. Through qualitative theory-guided content analysis, using frameworks of parenting dimensions and self-determination theory (SDT), we found that children’s perceptions of high responsiveness and low demandingness in PAP—ac…

The effectiveness of the HIPPA intervention in the sociocultural environment of ECEC physical activity

Studies have shown that, on average, children’s physical activity (PA) levels in early childhood education and care (ECEC) environments are low, thus opening up the possibility of interventions. We examined the effect of the teacher-implemented one-year long ‘home-and-childcare-based intervention to promote physical activity’ (HIPPA) study on children’s PA in ECEC settings in Finland. Participating four-year-old children (N = 128) were cluster-randomised into two groups, intervention (seven childcare centres) and control (seven childcare centres), in autumn 2011. The children were observed directly during their ECEC times. Multilevel linear analysis was used to test the PA differences betwe…

Body Mass Index in the Early Years in Relation to Motor Coordination at the Age of 5–7 Years

Physical activity (PA) and body mass index (BMI) are consistently associated with motor coordination (MC) in children. However, we know very little how BMI in early childhood associates with MC later in childhood. This study investigated associations between BMI in early childhood and BMI, PA, and MC in middle childhood. Children aged 5 to 7 years (n = 64, 32 girls) were measured for MC using Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) and for moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) using triaxial accelerometers. Prevailing body weight and height were measured, and information on weight and height in early years was based on parental report of child health care report cards. Age-adjusted BMIz scores we…

Combining Numerical Relational and Fundamental Motor Skills to Improve Preschoolers’ Early Numeracy : A Pilot Intervention Study

The aim of this pilot study was to examine the immediate and long-term effects of an intervention program that aims to improve preschoolers' (Le but de cette étude pilote était d'examiner les effets immédiats et à long terme d'un programme d'intervention qui vise à améliorer les compétences précoces en numératie des enfants d'âge préscolaire (N = 36, M = 4.49 ans, SD = 0.35) en combinant l'apprentissage des compétences par la lecture d'histoires avec la pratique des habiletés motrices fondamentales. Le programme d'intervention a été piloté avec deux plans d'étude : un plan à mesures répétées intra-sujet avec 18 enfants (étude I) et un plan d'étude quasiexpérimental avec 18 enfants (étude II…

Physical activity recommendations for early childhood : an international analysis of then different countries current national policies and practices for those under the age of 5

During the last two decades there have been growing interests on recommendations for children’s physical activity. The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the first global international recommendations for children in 2010, focusing on children and youth aged 5-17-year olds. The recommendations were based on the dose-response relationship between the frequency, duration, intensity, type and amount of physical activity needed for prevention of non-communicable diseases. Until 2019, there was a gap in the recommendations, as the WHO did not offer global recommendations for those children under the age of 5 (early years). The new recent guidelines (WHO, 2019) now offer a focused recommend…

The development of fundamental motor skills of four‐ to five‐year‐old preschool children and the effects of a preschool physical education curriculum

Altogether 38 girls and 46 boys aged four to five years were studied to analyse the linear and non‐linear development of fundamental motor skills. The children were grouped into one experimental and one control group to study the effects of an eight‐month preschool physical education curriculum. In the course of one year, the balance skills of the girls, the running speed of the boys and the standing broad‐jump and manipulative skills of both genders progressed linearly according to the children's age. Two weekly 45‐minute physical education lessons instructed by preschool teachers promoted the linear development of the girls' standing broad‐jump and non‐linear development of the boys' runn…

Relationship between habitual physical activity and gross motor skills is multifaceted in 5- to 8-year-old children

Adequate motor skills are essential for children participating in age-related physical activities, and gross motor skills may play an important role for maintaining sufficient level of physical activity (PA) during life course. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between gross motor skills and PA in children when PA was analyzed by both metabolic- and neuromuscular-based methods. Gross motor skills (KTK--Korperkoordinationstest fur Kinder and APM inventory--manipulative skill test) of 84 children aged 5-8 years (53 preschoolers, 28 girls; 31 primary schoolers, 18 girls) were measured, and accelerometer-derived PA was analyzed using in parallel metabolic counts and neur…

Associations between physical activity, motor skills, executive functions and early numeracy in preschoolers

We investigated direct and indirect cross-sectional associations of physical activity, fundamental motor skills, executive functions, and early numeracy in preschoolers. The participants were 214 preschoolers aged three to five years. Time spent in moderate and vigorous physical activity was measured by hip-worn accelerometers and fundamental motor skills using the tasks assessing locomotor, object control, and stability skills. Inhibition/switching and working memory/updating, as components of executive functions, were assessed by computerized tests and a standardized test was used to assess early numeracy. Path analyses were used to examine direct and indirect associations between the con…

Comparison of Classroom-based Sedentary Time and Physical Activity in Conventional Classrooms and Open Learning Spaces Among Elementary School Students

European children and adolescents spend most of their daily life and especially their school hours being sedentary which may increase their risk for chronic non-communicable diseases later in life. After the curriculum reform of Finnish basic education in 2014, most of the new or renovated comprehensive schools in Finland incorporate open and flexible classroom designs. Their open learning spaces may provide students opportunities to reduce sedentary behavior during school hours. Thus, waist-worn accelerometers were used to assess classroom-based sedentary time (ST), the number of breaks from sedentary time (BST), and physical activity (PA) among cross-sectional samples of 3rd and 5th grade…

3–10-vuotiaiden lasten motoriset perustaidot

Motoriset perustaidot ja niiden kehittyminen luovat perustan lapsen liikkumiselle ja kokonaisvaltaiselle fyysiselle aktiivisuudelle. Perustaidot tulisi oppia hallitsemaan ennen kouluikää. Lapsuuden aikaiset hyvät motoriset taidot ennustavat runsaampaa fyysistä aktiivisuutta myös myöhemmin nuoruusvuosina. Motorisilla taidoilla on lisäksi yhteyksiä lapsen kognitiivisiin taitoihin, terveystekijöihin sekä psykologista hyvinvointia kuvaaviin muuttujiin. Toistaiseksi Suomesta puuttuvat lasten motorisia taitoja mittaavat laajat kartoitukset, jonka vuoksi tämän tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli kuvata, minkä- laiset ovat 3–10-vuotiaiden tyttöjen ja poikien motoriset perustaidot vuonna 2015. Tutkimuksee…

Sedentary Patterns and Sit-to-Stand Transitions in Open Learning Spaces and Conventional Classrooms among Primary School Students

Educational reforms worldwide have resulted in schools increasingly incorporating open and flexible classroom designs that may provide possibilities to reduce sedentary behavior among students during lessons. Cross-sectional associations of classroom type on accelerometry assessed sedentary bout durations and sit-to-stand transitions were investigated in 191 third and fifth grade students recruited from one school with open learning spaces and two schools with conventional classrooms. A three-way ANOVA for classroom type, gender and grade level indicated that students in open learning spaces had more 1-to-4-min sedentary bouts (mean difference 1.8 bouts/h, p 10-min sedentary bouts (median 0…

Varhaiskasvatusikäisten lasten unen määrän yhteys motorisiin taitoihin ja liikkumiseen

Unen tiedetään olevan yhteydessä lasten fyysiseen, kognitiiviseen ja emotionaaliseen kehitykseen sekä oppimiseen. Tässä tutkimuksessa haluttiin selvittää varhaiskasvatusikäisten lasten unen määrän yhteyttä liikkumis- ja pallonkäsittelytaitoihin, motoriseen koordinaatioon sekä koettuun motoriseen pätevyyteen. Lisäksi selvitettiin unen määrän yhteyttä fyysisen aktiivisuuden, paikallaan olon sekä ruutuajan määrään. Tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin myös mahdollisia iästä ja sukupuolesta johtuvia eroja kyseisissä muuttujissa. Tutkimus oli osa Taitavat tenavat –tutkimushanketta, jonka aikana lapset olivat 3–7-vuotiaita (N = 1234, 624 tyttöä ja 610 poikaa, ikä 5,0 v. ± 1,1). Unen määrää, fyysistä aktii…

Liikuntaa tukevan vanhemmuuden kysely 7-10-vuotiaille lapsille

Tipsu & Tapsu on lapsille suunnattu validoitu mittaristo liikuntaa tukevan vanhemmuuden arvioimiseen. Lapset arvioivat kuvallisen ja tarinallistetun mittariston avulla liikkumiseen liittyviä vanhemmuuskäytäntöjä. Rakennevaliditeetti ja reliabiliteetti: Laukkanen, A., Aunola, K., Korhonen, E. et al. Construct validity and reliability of the physical activity parenting questionnaire for children (PAP-C). Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 18, 61 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01128-5. Tipsu & Tapsu is a validated scale for children to assess parenting that supports physical activity. Using a pictorial and story-based scale, children assess parenting practices related to physical activity. …