New research aims to boost energetic play in early childhood

The University of South Australia (UniSA) alongside Telethon Kids Institute in Western Australia is undertaking new research designed to get young Australian children (aged 2-5 years) more physically active while at early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.

The new study represents the largest implementation trial of a physical activity assessment and policy for ECEC services globally, as well as the first sustainability trial in these settings, and hopes to identify successful ways to boost children’s energetic play in environments that can be supported by new policy guidelines to ensure sufficient exercise.

Currently, while regulations and policies exist for children’s nutrition, sleep, and sun protection, there are no mandated policies on physical activity levels for children, something which researchers hope will change as a result of their work. 

“Young children need to be active and involved in energetic play, every day. Not only is it fun, healthy, and great for their physical development, but it also helps improve attention, memory, and language development,”  UniSA researcher Kylie Dankiw said.

“By working with early childhood educators and carers, we aim to ensure that all young Australian children have every opportunity to boost their physical activity levels and get excited by active play – whether in care or at home.”

One way in which researchers will gather more information is through participating children wearing ‘superhero’ belts (colourful, lightweight, waist-worn accelerometers) over eight days, to track their physical activity from when they get up in the morning, to when they go to bed at night. This will include days when the child attends an ECEC service as well as days when they are at home.

Educators and leaders of the ECEC services the children attend will be supported through Play Active, a first of its kind initiative which provides evidence-informed guidelines about the amount of physical activity and sedentary time (including screen time) children should do while attending ECEC.

“Australia’s early childhood educators are extremely committed to supporting the healthy growth and development of young children in their care,” fellow researcher Professor Carol Maher said. 

“But we need to appropriately support the sector – and the dedicated workers within it – to initiate positive change, and the grounding point is a nationwide activity policy. By standardising physical activity policies nationwide will we consistently be able to foster healthier environments for young children and keep them buzzing with energy.”

The Play Active program is currently being implemented in Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia, with the next phase involving the national dissemination and implementation Play Active across all Australian states and territories.

Learn more about Play Active here.