PA correlates/determinants were relatively consistent between objective and subjective PA measures .
A small number of demographic/biological and social/cultural factors were associated with PA .
CONTEXT Being physically active during the early years ( age 0 - 6 years ) is vital for healthy development .
Identifying correlates and determinants of physical activity ( PA ) is crucial to guide effective interventions .
This systematic review synthesized studies investigating potential correlates and determinants of PA during the early years , accounting for different types of PA assessment .
Fundamental movement skills and habitual physical activity in young children.
PURPOSE To test for relationships between objective ly measured habitual physical activity and fundamental movement skills in a relatively large and representative sample of preschool children . METHODS Physical activity was measured over 6 d using the Computer Science and Applications ( CSA ) accelerometer in 394 boys and girls ( mean age 4.2 , SD 0.5 yr ) . Children were scored on 15 fundamental movement skills , based on the Movement Assessment Battery , by a single observer . RESULTS Total physical activity ( r=0.10 , P<0.05 ) and percent time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ) ( r=0.18 , P<0.001 ) were significantly correlated with total movement skills score . Time spent in light-intensity physical activity was not significantly correlated with motor skills score ( r=0.02 , P>0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS In this sample and setting , fundamental movement skills were significantly associated with habitual physical activity , but the association between the two variables was weak . The present study questions whether the widely assumed relationships between motor skills and habitual physical activity actually exist in young children
PA correlates/determinants were relatively consistent between objective and subjective PA measures .
A small number of demographic/biological and social/cultural factors were associated with PA .
CONTEXT Being physically active during the early years ( age 0 - 6 years ) is vital for healthy development .
Identifying correlates and determinants of physical activity ( PA ) is crucial to guide effective interventions .
This systematic review synthesized studies investigating potential correlates and determinants of PA during the early years , accounting for different types of PA assessment .