Revista de fisioterapia y rehabilitación física

Physical Activity of Preschool Children: A Review

Abstract

Sara Crosatti Barbosa and Arli Ramos de Oliveira

The aim of this study was to determine the level of physical activity of children during the period of stay in preschools, and associated factors. A literature search was conducted in databases Web of Science, Sport Discus, Science Direct, PubMed and Scopus. Inclusion criteria were: articles concerning physical activity of children aged 2-6 years in preschools. Seven original articles were included. The methods of evaluation were: accelerometers, pedometers and direct observation. In total, we analyzed 1485 children aged 2-6 years. Findings indicated on average 7.51 h/day and 7.22 h/day of stay of children in preschool, with the highest percentage of sedentary physical activity. Conclusion that children attending preschools spend most of the day in sedentary behavior. Activities initiated by adults tend to result in lower levels of physical activity among children. The space inside for games, outdoor games, markings on the floor to play, jumping and climbing equipment are some actions that increase the level of daily physical activity of children in such places.