Little Kids, Too Little Movement: Global Study Finds Most Children Don’t Meet Guidelines for Physical Activity, Screen Time and Sleep

Introduction

Appropriate levels of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep are essential for the healthy growth and development of preschool-aged children. This was the impetus for creating the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (birth to four years). Similarly, the World Health Organization adopted the Canadian guidelines when creating the global guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep for children under five years of age.

Global Levels

A new global study shows that most children around the world don’t meet these guidelines. The study included more than 7,000 preschoolers from 33 different countries, including Canada. The countries represented various World Bank income groups (e.g., high, middle, and low-income countries) and the geographical regions of Africa, Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific.

When looking at each movement behavior individually for preschoolers around the world, 49 per cent met the physical activity recommendations, 42 per cent met the screen time recommendation, and 81 per cent met the sleep recommendation. That most young children are not meeting each of these basic recommendations separately is cause for concern; that 86 per cent are not meeting all guideline recommendations combined is alarming and places preschoolers around the world at risk of sub-standard health and development.

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By Income

Low-income countries had the highest movement behavior guideline adherence levels (17 per cent), compared to middle-income (12 per cent) and high-income (14 per cent) countries. While children from high-income countries were more active and had more quality sleep, they also had the worst screen time behaviors compared to low- and middle-income countries. It is a double-edged sword that in higher-income countries, children have more access to physical activity opportunities and quality sleep environments, but also more access to screen time devices.

By Region

The African and European regions had the highest movement behavior adherence (24 per cent), while the Americas region had the lowest (eight per cent). With 17 per cent meeting the screen time recommendations and 68 per cent meeting the physical activity recommendations, the Americas region had the worst screen time and best physical activity. Sixty-eight per cent of preschool-aged children in the Americas were meeting the physical activity recommendations, compared to only 26 per cent of Southeast Asian children. However, it remains a concern that roughly half of all young children around the world are at risk of sub-optimal health and development from lack of physical activity.

Take Home

The World Health Organization has global movement guidelines for preschool children and a global action plan to increase physical activity. Canada has similar guidelines and a similar plan. However, health movement behavior levels in Canada and across the globe are unsatisfactory and forecast further global health challenges, inequalities, and distancing from United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It’s time to get our little ones a little more active.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study highlights the alarming rate at which preschoolers around the world are not meeting guidelines for physical activity, screen time, and sleep. The findings suggest that preschoolers are at risk of sub-standard health and development due to lack of physical activity, excessive screen time, and poor sleep habits. It is essential to develop strategies to promote healthy movement behaviors in preschoolers, such as increasing access to physical activity opportunities, reducing screen time, and promoting good sleep habits.

FAQs

Q: What are the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years?
A: The Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years provide recommendations for physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep for children from birth to four years of age.

Q: What are the global guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep for children under five years of age?
A: The World Health Organization adopted the Canadian guidelines when creating the global guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep for children under five years of age.

Q: What is the percentage of preschoolers around the world who meet the physical activity recommendations?
A: According to the study, 49 per cent of preschoolers around the world meet the physical activity recommendations.

Q: What is the percentage of preschoolers around the world who meet the screen time recommendations?
A: According to the study, 42 per cent of preschoolers around the world meet the screen time recommendations.

Q: What is the percentage of preschoolers around the world who meet the sleep recommendations?
A: According to the study, 81 per cent of preschoolers around the world meet the sleep recommendations.

Q: What are the implications of the study’s findings?
A: The study’s findings suggest that preschoolers are at risk of sub-standard health and development due to lack of physical activity, excessive screen time, and poor sleep habits. It is essential to develop strategies to promote healthy movement behaviors in preschoolers.