Lack of physical activity is a global public health problem causing not only morbidity and premature mortality, but it is also a major economic burden worldwide. One of the cornerstones of a physically active lifestyle is Motor Competence (MC). MC is a complex biocultural attribute and therefore, its study requires a multi-sectoral, multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary approach. MC is a growing area of research, especially in children and adolescents due to its positive association with a plethora of health and developmental outcomes. Many questions, however, remain to be answered in this field of research, with regard to: (i) Health and Developmental-related Associations of MC; (ii) Assessment of MC; (iii) Prevalence and Trends of MC; (iv) Correlates and Determinants of MC; (v) MC Interventions, and (vi) Translating MC Research into Practice and Policy. This paper presents a narrative review of the literature, summarizing current knowledge, identifying key research gaps and presenting questions for future investigation on MC in children and adolescents. This is a collaborative effort from the International Motor Competence Network (IMCNetwork) a network of academics and researchers aiming to promote international collaborative research and knowledge translation in the expansive field of MC. The knowledge and deliverables generated by addressing and answering the aforementioned research questions on MC presented in this review have the potential to shape the ways in which researchers and practitioners promote MC and physical activity in children and adolescents across the world.

Teachers are considered important role models for the behavior of children during early childhood. The purposes of this study are to: (a) compare activity levels of preschool children in a structured physical education (PE) class taught by an active or less active teacher; (b) examine the interaction effect of gender, school size, and teacher activity levels on the activity levels of children. The participants were 248 preschool children (134 boys, 114 girls; mean age = 5.5 years) and teachers from 12 preschools in Hong Kong. Regular classroom teachers conducted a 30-min structured PE class, and the participants’ physical activity (PA) levels were measured using pedometers. The recorded step counts of teachers were employed to classify whether children were in the classes taught by active or less active teachers. Factorial analysis of variance was used to examine differences in the pedometer-determined activity regarding gender and school size between the different types of classes. The results indicated that preschool children had higher PA levels in PE classes taught by more active teachers than in those taught by less active teachers (1712 versus 951 steps). Future studies could explore other teacher-related factors that might facilitate appropriate strategies to engage preschoolers in higher PA during PE classes.

School-based physical activity (PA), including activity during physical education (PE) lessons and after-school hours, is a possible opportunity for increasing children’s daily PA. The purposes of this study were (a) to compare children’s school-based PA levels during PE lessons and after-school hours and (b) to examine whether there is a difference in children’s PA behaviour (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)) and sedentary behaviour on a day which includes school-based PA (i.e. PE class or after-school sports class). The participants were 242 children (mean age = 8.7, SD = 1.6) from five primary schools in Hong Kong. Children’s PA levels were measured using an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X) for four school days, and the data were used to derive the duration (min) of MVPA and sedentary behaviour using age-specific criteria. The PA data were grouped according to the school-based PA opportunities, i.e. (a) with a PE lesson (PE day); (b) with an after-school sport class (AFS day); or (c) without school-based PA (N-Act day). The results indicated that the groups differed significantly in daily MVPA [ F (2,108) = 16.62, p < .00] and MVPA during school hours [ F (2,108) = 36.22, p < .00]. There was no significant difference in children’s sedentary behaviour with school-based PA participation. The present study confirmed the contribution of school-based PA opportunities to children’s MVPA in the school day, while sedentary behaviour may not necessarily be reduced.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between parental socioeconomic status (SES) and children’s physical activity (PA) behaviour during after-school hours. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Participants included 663 schoolchildren (aged between 10 and 13 years) and their parents from nine primary schools in Hong Kong. Parental SES status and the after-school PA levels of children were assessed using self-administered questionnaires. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to examine the association between parents’ education and income level and the type of activities in which children participated during after-school hours. Results: Results indicated that children with mother in the higher education group engaged in fewer time blocks of sports-type activity (high = 0.72 time blocks; medium = 1.04 time blocks; low = 1.17 time blocks). Compared with their counterparts, children with mothers in the higher income group were more engaged in sedentary activity (high = 5.33 time blocks; medium = 5.02 time blocks; low = 4.73 time blocks) within the eight 30-minute time blocks during after-school hours. Conclusion: The study describes how parental SES influences children’s after-school PA participation and highlights the importance of including a family perspective when designing a PA promotion programme targeting after-school hours.

The use of either face mask during PPV in the delivery room yields similar mask leak in preterm infants <33 weeks gestational age.