Move-play-explore in Early Childhood Education
NCT Number: NCT06488508
Acronym: MoveEarly
Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
Phases: NA
Conditions: Kindergarten Children's Health, Development, Well-being
Interventions: BEHAVIORAL: MoveEarly
Sponsor: Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
Sex: ALL
Age: CHILD
Enrollment: 500
Study Design: Allocation: RANDOMIZED|Intervention Model: PARALLEL|Masking: SINGLE (OUTCOMES_ASSESSOR)|Primary Purpose: PREVENTION
Start Date: 2024-08
Completion Date: 2026-06

Summary:
Evidence is lacking about scalable, effective and sustainable interventions to increase whole-child development in young children. Targeting worrisome trends in physical inactivity and schoolification negatively affecting young children, we will conduct a large cluster randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of professional development of kindergarten staff on kindergarten pedagogical practices regarding movement, play and exploration and child health and development over 18 months. The aim is to recruit 50 kindergartens and 500 children aged 4 years in one county in the western part of Norway to allow for detecting small to moderate effect sizes and ensuring a heterogeneous sample of kindergartens for the study of implementation. Children's physical, mental and socio-emotional development, as well as intervention implementation, will be investigated. The intervention will be developed with strong user involvement from kindergartens and relevant stakeholders to facilitate the development of sustainable solutions.

Primary Outcome Measures: Movement competence and creativity, The Test of Movement Competence and Creativity, consists of 3 standardized, multi-item movement challenges children will solve as successful or not. Measured as scores., Change to 18 months|Movement competence and creativity, The Test of Movement Competence and Creativity, consists of 3 standardized, multi-item movement challenges children will solve as successful or not. Measured as scores., Change to 7 months
Secondary Outcome Measures: Physical activity and sedentary time, 7-day monitoring Actigraph GT3X+. Measured in average cpm and min/day in intensity zones., Change to 18 months|Physical activity and sedentary time, 7-day monitoring Actigraph GT3X+. Measured in average cpm and min/day in intensity zones., Change to 7 months|Standing long-jump, PREFIT test battery, measured in meters., Change to 18 months|Grip strength, PREFIT test battery, measured in kg., Change to 18 months|Supine timed up and go, SUNRISE test battery, measured in seconds., Change to 18 months|Body mass, Measured in kg., Change to 18 months|Body mass index, Measured i kg/meter2., Change to 18 months|Children's social-emotional health, The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire, staff-report on 25 items. Measured as scores., Change to 18 months|Behavioural self-regulation, Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task (HTKS). Measured as scores., Change to 18 months|Numeracy, Early Years Toolbox Numbers task. Measured as scores., Change to 18 months|Vocabulary, Early Years Toolbox Vocabulary task. Measured as scores., Change to 18 months|Playfulness, explorative behaviour and wellbeing, The Children's Involvement and Wellbeing in Movement, Play and Exploration Questionnaire, staff-report on 21 items. Measured as scores, Change to 18 months