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  • Population Study Article
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Thai Preschoolers’ movement behaviors outside kindergarten: prevalence of meeting individual and integrated movement guidelines

Pediatric Research volume 95, pages 1363–1371 (2024)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

This study aimed to investigate movement behaviors of Thai preschoolers (aged 3–6 years) occurring outside kindergarten in urban areas across Thailand.

Methods

Surveillance of digital Media in eArLy chiLdhood Questionnaire® was used to collect data from 1051 parents recruited from 12 schools. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were applied for data analysis.

Results

Thai preschoolers engaged in physical activity (PA), sedentary screen time, and sleep on weekends significantly more than weekdays with no significant sex differences. Preschoolers met the sleep guidelines the most (62.3%), followed by PA guidelines (48.0%), and screen time (ST) guidelines the least (44.1%). Only 14.6% met the integrated movement guidelines, and 11% met none of the guidelines. Age was positively associated with meeting the PA guidelines, and negatively associated with meeting the sleep and integrated movement guidelines. The number of digital devices at home and geographical region influenced preschoolers in meeting the PA and ST guidelines.

Conclusions

Thai preschoolers’ time spent on all forms of activities outside kindergarten was significantly more on weekends than weekdays with no sex disparity. The prevalence of meeting the integrated movement guidelines was low, and needs to be addressed through comprehensive programs including all forms of activities concurrently.

Impact

  • Thai preschoolers engaged in physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), and sleep on weekends significantly more than weekdays with no significant sex differences.

  • Only 14.6% of preschoolers met the integrated movement guidelines.

  • Age had a significant relationship with meeting the PA, sleep, and integrated movement guidelines. Meeting the PA and ST guidelines in preschoolers was positively associated with the number of digital devices at home.

  • Despite some limitations, this study presented preschoolers’ time engaged in the three movement behaviors concurrently, and provided important inputs for development of the national strategic plan to promote PA among Thai children and youth.

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Fig. 1: Prevalence of preschoolers meeting the integrated movement guidelines.

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Data availability

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available due to restrictions on intellectual property regulations of the funding organization. Data are, however, available provided that an application is submitted at info@thaihealth.or.th and approved by the data custodians. No administrative process is required to access the datasets.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express gratitude to all parents and guardians of children who participated in the study. We thank school principals who allowed us to conduct the study through their schools, and we appreciate all teachers and administrative staff of all participating schools for their assistance during participant sampling, recruitment and data collection. We also thank the Thai Health Promotion Foundation for research funding. The foundation was not involved in conducting the study or preparing the results for publication.

Funding

This study was financially supported by Thai Health Promotion Foundation through Children and Youth Physical Activity Studies (Ref: 61-00-1814).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Sports Science and Technology, Mahidol University, 999 Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Salaya, Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand

    Areekul Amornsriwatanakul, Suchada Saovieng, Ampika Nantabancha & Vimolmas Tansathitaya

  2. Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University, 999 Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Salaya, Phutthamonthon District, Nakhon Pathom, 73170, Thailand

    Chutima Jalayondeja

  3. School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand

    Apichai Wattanapisit

  4. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, 15 Karnjanavanich Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand

    Rattanaporn Chootong

  5. Physical Education & Sports Science, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Terence Chua & Michael Chia

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  1. Areekul Amornsriwatanakul
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Contributions

A.A. conceived the study, collected data, interpreted the results and drafted the original version of the manuscript, and edited the manuscript. T.C. conceived the study, conducted the statistical analyses, and drafted the original version of the manuscript. M.C. conceived the study, and edited the manuscript. V.T. collected data, interpreted the results, drafted the original version of the manuscript, and edited the manuscript. C.J., A.W., R.C., S.S., and A.N. collected data and provided critical comment on the draft. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript, and agree to the order of presentation of the authors.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vimolmas Tansathitaya.

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Amornsriwatanakul, A., Jalayondeja, C., Wattanapisit, A. et al. Thai Preschoolers’ movement behaviors outside kindergarten: prevalence of meeting individual and integrated movement guidelines. Pediatr Res 95, 1363–1371 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-023-02989-1

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