More research is needed to determine interventions to promote physical activity in preschool children.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of using wearable activity tracker technology, integrated with altruistic motivation in children to increase physical activity (PA), fitness, and prosocial behavior.Design and MethodsA quasiexperimental design was employed in two 4th grade classrooms in a rural southern state. The intervention was a wearable PA tracker and a web‐based curriculum with activities to earn power points redeemable to provide life‐saving food to undernourished kids internationally. Seventeen children in the intervention group participated in the 10‐week PA program and 18 children were in the wait listed control group. Three measures were assessed in both groups at baseline and postintervention: (a) PA measured with accelerometers, (b) fitness levels measured with shuttle run, and (c) prosocial behavior measured with Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire.ResultsOf the 35 children enrolled, the majority were nine years old (n = 28), black (n = 31) and female (n = 23). An overall enrollment rate of 88%, attrition rate of 9%, and an accelerometer noncompliance rate of 25% was determined to assess feasibility. There was no statistical significance between the control and intervention group outcome variables. The average minutes of PA in the control group decreased 8 min from baseline to postintervention (p = .05). In the intervention group, PA decreased by 10 min from baseline to postintervention (p = .12). In both the control and intervention groups, prosocial behavior scores decreased (p = .09 control; p = .62 intervention). The fitness scores, VO2 max, did not significantly change (intervention p = .21; control p = .35).Practice ImplicationsDeveloping effective interventions that foster PA and dissuade sedentary behaviors are essential to enhancing PA and fitness levels. The recruitment, retention, and accelerometer wear adherence suggest this setting, with this population is feasible. The intervention is deliverable, however, the potential of wearable activity trackers and the effect of prosocial behavior that benefits others in increasing PA and improving cardiorespiratory fitness, should be further researched by building on the successful elements of this study.

Purpose: The purpose was to examine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of two built environmental interventions with Head Start preschool children to increase minutes and intensity and total physical activity (PA). Design and Methods:A prospective, quasi-experimental, repeated measures design was conducted in two Head Start centers. Centers were randomly assigned to one of two intervention arms. Intervention Arm I added portable play equipment to the school environment; Arm II introduced portable play equipment plus PA education for staff and children. PA was measured during school using accelerometers and by observation using SOPLAY. The data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA.Results: Ninety-seven children and eight staff were enrolled; valid PA data were available for 56 children (58%). Minutes of PA were highest at baseline in both groups and declined over the intervention. PA in Arm I decreased 22 min from weeks one to three and 12 min (p < .001) from weeks 3 to 6. In Arm II, PA declined 33 min from weeks one to three and 20 min (p < .001) from weeks 3 to 6. Practice Implications: Nurses work to maintain and improve health at multiple levels of influence and are in strategic positions to educate and support PA to maintain and improve the health of all ages. School-based PA interventions have been reported with varying success. The feasibility of this study provides insight into the challenges in planning and conducting school-based interventions including enrollment, attrition, and accelerometer wear-time compliance. Despite our interventions, there was no positive response to either intervention, with PA declining at each time period in both groups. However, baseline PA was significantly higher than in previous studies. Schools can provide children with opportunities to accumulate PA. K E Y W O R D S child health, child, preschool, environment, intervention, motor activity, physical activity, school health