Short bouTs of Exercise for Preschool-age Children

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to examine if short bouts of structured physical activity implemented within the classroom setting as part of designated gross-motor playtime will increase preschool-age children during-school physical activity level.

Detailed Description
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Most preschool centers provide two 30-minute sessions of gross-motor/outdoor playtime per preschool day. Within this time frame, children accumulate most of their activity within the first 10 minutes. This study is a cluster randomized controlled study designed to examine the effects of short bouts of structured physical activity implemented within the classroom setting as part of designated gross-motor playtime on during-school physical activity in preschoolers. Results from this intervention could provide evidence that a physical activity policy that exposes preschoolers to shorter bouts of structured physical activity throughout the preschool day could potentially increase preschooler's physical activity levels.

Official Title
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Effects of Short Bouts of Physical Activity in Low-income Preschool-age Children

Conditions
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Physical Activity

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Short bouts of structured physical activity
* Behavioral: Unstructured physical activity


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Attend one of 10 participating preschool centers Attend preschool full-time Children between 2.9 - 5 years of age on the date of baseline assessment Exclusion Criteria: Did not have a condition limiting their participation in routine gross-motor playtime at preschool Unable to wear the activity monitor

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 3 Years
Maximum Age: 5 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Short bouts of structured activity<br> | Behavioral: Short bouts of structured physical activity<br>* Short bouts of structured physical activity preschools will be asked to implement age-appropriate 10 minute structured physical activity routines within the classroom setting followed by 20 minutes of usual unstructured playtime activities. Intervention will be implemented for a total of 30 minutes during both morning and afternoon gross motor playtime 5 days/week for 6 months.<br>* Other names: Instant Recess for preschoolers;|
| Active Comparator: Unstructured physical activity<br> | Behavioral: Unstructured physical activity<br>* Unstructured physical activity intervention will consist of 30 minutes of supervised unstructured free playtime twice. intervention will be delivered during both morning and afternoon gross motor playtime for 5 days/week for 6 months.<br>* Other names: Free playtime;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline in Physical activity levels at 6-month | Physical activity levels will be assessed with accelerometer and direct observation system | Baseline, 3-month and 6-month after study initiation | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Physical activity, preschoolers