Prevalence of toddlers meeting 24-hour movement guidelines and associations with parental perceptions and practices

Elise Rivera; Kylie D Hesketh; Liliana Orellana; Rachael Taylor; Valerie Carson; Jan M Nicholson; Lisa M Barnett; Marie Löf; Harriet Koorts; Denise Becker; Barbara Galland; Jo Salmon; Katherine L Downing

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2023.12.008

Prevalence of toddlers meeting 24-hour movement guidelines and associations with parental perceptions and practices

J Sci Med Sport. 2024 Apr;27(4):250-256. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.12.008. Epub 2023 Dec 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia. Electronic address: e.rivera@deakin.edu.au.
² Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia.
³ Deakin University, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia.
⁴ University of Otago, Department of Medicine, New Zealand.
⁵ University of Alberta, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, Edmonton, 8840 114st, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada.
⁶ La Trobe University, Judith Lumley Centre, Australia.
⁷ Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia; Deakin University, School of Health and Social Development, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia.
⁸ Deakin University, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Sweden.
⁹ University of Otago, Department of Women's & Children's Health, New Zealand.

PMID: 38216403
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2023.12.008

Abstract

Objectives: Whether toddlers (1-2 years) meet 24-hour Movement Guidelines and how parental practices and perceptions are related to compliance are uncertain. This study: a) estimated the proportion of toddlers meeting individual and combined movement guidelines; and b) examined associations between parental perceptions/practices and toddlers' compliance with movement guidelines.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Australian parents self-reported their parenting practices/perceptions (routines, co-participation, restrictions, concerns, knowledge) and toddlers' movement behaviours in the baseline assessment of Let's Grow (n=1145), a randomised controlled trial. The World Health Organization's Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep for children under 5 years were used to estimate the prevalence of compliance with individual and combined movement guidelines. Logistic models assessed cross-sectional associations.

Results: The prevalence of meeting guidelines was 30.9% for screen time, 82.3% for sleep, 81.6% for physical activity, 20.1% for combined, and 2.1% meeting none. Parents' knowledge of the guidelines, fewer concerns and more favourable restrictions concerning movement behaviours were associated with greater compliance with individual and combined movement guidelines. Routines for screen time and for combined behaviours were associated with adherence to their respective guidelines. Less co-participation in screen time and more co-participation in physical activity were associated with greater compliance with the relevant guidelines.

Conclusions: Given only 20% of toddlers met all guidelines, strategies early in life to establish healthy movement behaviours, especially screen time, are needed. Future studies could target the parental practices/perceptions identified in this study to support toddlers with optimal sleep and physical activity and reduced screen time.

Keywords: Early childhood; Movement behaviours; Movement guidelines; Physical activity; Sedentary behaviour; Sleep.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Australia
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Parents*
Prevalence
Self Report
Sleep*