JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Physical activity (PA) is beneficial already at the preschool age. In many countries young children spend most of their days in the preschool setting, making it a common arena for PA interventions. Mobile Health (mHealth) tools are becoming increasingly popular to promote PA in different populations; however, little is known about how the preschool setting could incorporate such a tool.

Objective:

This study examined how teachers and parents perceive PA in preschool aged children in general and how a smartphone application (app) could be used to promote PA in the preschool setting.

Methods:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 teachers (93% women, mean age 43.5 years, 47% with a university degree) and 10 parents (91% women, mean age 38.9 years, all with a university degree) recruited from two urban preschools in central Sweden. The interviews were recorded, fully transcribed, coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results:

The analysis revealed one main theme, Possibilities and barriers of preschoolers’ PA and four subthemes: 1) Children are physically active by nature, 2) Environment as a facilitator or a barrier, 3) Prerequisites of the adult world, and 4) Screens – Challenges and possibilities. Preschoolers were perceived as being spontaneously physically active; however, high intensity PA was perceived as low. The PA was specifically performed during the day in the preschool. Facilitators of PA were: access to safe and engaging outdoor environments such as forests, spacious indoor areas and adult involvement. Adult involvement was especially important for children that preferred sedentary activities. Barriers for PA were: restricted indoor and outdoor space, rules for indoor activities and adult lack of time and involvement. The teachers perceived that they had limited skills and experiences using apps in general, although they acknowledged the increasing role of technical tools in the curriculum. An app designed as a support tool for teachers was suggested. This app would include accessible information regarding the health benefits of PA in children linked to a library of activities for different settings and seasons. Parents did not perceive screen time to replace PA in this age group. However, parents did perceive screen based activities to be a source of conflict and a concern for decreased child creativity and initiatives for other activities. Thus, an app that is developed for the preschool environment should keep this in mind.

Conclusions:

Vigorous PA was perceived as low in preschool aged children. Future tailoring of interventions in the preschool setting need to work around barriers and support facilitators to PA. In such work, an app could serve as a source of inspiration for PA in different settings and thus reduce environmental and structural inequalities in the preschool setting. Clinical Trial: Not applicable