Physical Literacy and Physical Activity in Early Years Education: What's Known, What's Done, and What's Needed?

Physical literacy (PL) is increasingly recognised as essential for fostering lifelong engagement in physical activity (PA), particularly when nurtured in early childhood. Yet there remains limited understanding of how stakeholders in early years (EY) education perceive, value, and implement a PL-informed approach. This study aims to explore knowledge and beliefs regarding PL and PA in relation to 3-5-year-olds, investigating key questions around perceived importance, current practices, and barriers to implementation.

Multistakeholder Perspectives on the Determinants of Family Fundamental Movement Skills Practice: A Qualitative Systematic Review.

Background: Childhood obesity is a significant public health crisis that is exposing children to associated morbidities and premature mortality. However, parents can positively influence physical activity trajectories and improve health outcomes by nurturing fundamental movement skills (FMS) in children. This is the first study to explore the determinants of family FMS practice via a systematic synthesis of qualitative evidence.

Inclusivity in prostate cancer and exercise research: a systematic review.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent type of cancer in men in the UK. Exercise has been shown to improve the health and quality of life of PCa patients. Exercise should be easily accessible to men with PCa regardless of socioeconomic group or ethnicity.

Impact and Implementation of an Early Years Fundamental Motor Skills Intervention for Children 4-5 Years.

Unlabelled: Fundamental motor skills (FMS) are the cornerstone of a child's motor development, but concerns remain on the current level of FMS competencies, and intervention is required. This evaluation investigated if a targeted Early Years FMS intervention, delivered by a specialist physical education (PE) provider, improved the FMS of 4-5-year-old children across multiple sites.

Methods: The Early Years FMS intervention ran for 18 weeks, 1 h/week, using a standardised programme of activities to develop FMS competencies across 219 children from 15 schools in the Midlands, UK.

The Impact of Swimming on Fundamental Movement Skill Development in Children (3-11 Years): A Systematic Literature Review.

Swimming is the only sport providing lifesaving skills, reducing the risk of death by drowning, a top cause of deaths in children aged 1-14 years. Research shows swimming amongst other sports can aid fundamental movement skill (FMS) development. Therefore, this review investigated the following: (1) how swimming impacts FMS development in children aged 3-11 years, (2) successful tools assessing swimming and FMS, and (3) recommendations appropriate to the UK curriculum based on findings of this study.

Direct Parent Engagement to Improve Fundamental Movement Skills in Children: A Systematic Review.

Fundamental movement skills (FMS) are basic movements in children that represent the building blocks for more complex motor skill development and act as a prerequisite for enduring sport and physical activity (PA) engagement and positive health-related behaviours. The FMS proficiency is currently inadequate worldwide, and consequently there are alarming levels of inactivity and childhood obesity. However, parents are role models to their children and possess the power to influence their PA behaviour.

The Effects of Physical Activity on Academic Performance in School-Aged Children: A Systematic Review.

Schools offer a unique environment to influence children's physical activity (PA) levels positively. This study aims to systematically review the evidence surrounding how PA affects academic performance by analysing how the frequency, intensity, time, and type of PA mediate academic performance outcomes. This review was conducted using the PRISMA framework.

Improving Fundamental Movement Skills during Early Childhood: An Intervention Mapping Approach.

The earlier in life that a child can begin mastering fundamental movement skills (FMS), the more positive their physical activity (PA) trajectories and health outcomes are. To achieve sufficient development in FMS, children must be guided with tuition and practice opportunities. Schools and educators provide an opportunity for interventions that improve health behaviours and outcomes for children.

The Role of Physical Activity in Cancer Recovery: An Exercise Practitioner's Perspective.

Less than 20% of cancer patients meet the recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines, partially due to poor knowledge and enforcement/encouragement amongst health-care professionals (HCPs). The primary aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of exercise practitioners on the role of PA and the physiological and psychological benefits to recovering cancer patients; the secondary aim was to understand the barriers and facilitators of promoting PA to cancer survivors. The third aim was to, seek the perspectives on the effectiveness of referral systems between the hospitals and PA structures.

An Investigation into the Physical Activity Experiences of People Living with and beyond Cancer during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study investigated the physical activity experiences of people living with and beyond cancer (PLWBC) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants attended the cancer and rehabilitation exercise (CARE) programme delivered by a football community trust. Staff ( = 2) and participants ( = 9) attended semi-structured interviews investigating the PA participation and experiences of attending/delivering different modes of CARE, including exercise classes delivered outdoors and delivered online.

Influence of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Physical and Psychosocial Well-being and Work Productivity of Remote Workers: Cross-sectional Correlational Study.

Background: Lockdowns imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the living and working habits of millions of people, with potentially important implications for their physical, mental, and social well-being.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on remote workers who were not directly affected by COVID-19.

Methods: This was a correlational cross-sectional study (with an additional qualitative component) of 184 remote workers surveyed during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom.

The 24-h Movement Compositions in Weekday, Weekend Day or Four-Day Periods Differentially Associate with Fundamental Movement Skills.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between weekday, weekend day and four-day physical activity (PA) behaviours and fundamental movement skills (FMS) in British preschool children from a low socio-economic status background using compositional data analysis (CoDA). One hundred and eighty-five preschool children aged 3-4 years provided objectively assessed PA and sedentary behaviour (SB) data (GENEActiv accelerometer) and FMS (TGMD-2). The association of 24-h movement behaviours with FMS was explored using CoDA and isotemporal substitution (R Core Team, 3.

Multi-Component Physical Activity Interventions in the UK Must Consider Determinants of Activity to Increase Effectiveness.

Interventions to increase physical activity in children have adopted broad approaches and achieved varying success. There is a need to adopt approaches underpinned with a theoretical basis. Accordingly, the aim here was to implement and evaluate a 12-week intervention designed using the concepts of the COM-B model to determine the effect this has on physical activity levels.

Educators Perspectives on the Value of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Fundamental Movement Skills for Early Years Foundation Stage Children in England.

There is a lack of information available for physical education (PE) provision in the early years foundation stage (EYFS), prompting concern about what is currently delivered in schools and the values behind the approaches taken. Using semi-structured interviews, this study investigated educators' perspectives on the value of PE and physical activity (PA) for EYFS children across England in relation to opportunities for, barriers to, and benefits of PA and PE. This study collected important stakeholder views and can help shape the impact and implementation of fundamental movement skills (FMS) and PA interventions at the EYFS.

Fundamental Movement Skills and Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity Levels during Early Childhood: A Systematic Review.

Early childhood is a key period for children to begin developing and practicing fundamental movement skills (FMS), while aiming to perform sufficient physical activity (PA). This study reviews the current evidence for the levels of achievement in FMS and PA measured using accelerometers among 4-5-year-old children and examines differences by gender. This review was conducted using the PRISMA framework.

Calibration and Cross-Validation of Accelerometery for Estimating Movement Skills in Children Aged 8-12 Years.

(1) Background: This study sought to calibrate triaxial accelerometery, worn on both wrists, waist and both ankles, during children's physical activity (PA), with particular attention to object control motor skills performed at a fast and slow cadence, and to cross-validate the accelerometer cut-points derived from the calibration using an independent dataset. (2) Methods: Twenty boys (10.1 ±1.

Cross-validation of Actigraph derived accelerometer cut-points for assessment of sedentary behaviour and physical activity in children aged 8-11 years.

Aim: To cross-validate previously calibrated Actigraph cut-points in children.

Methods: Twenty-eight children (50% boys) aged between 8 and 11 years of age (9.4 ± 1.

Accelerometer-Based Physical Activity Levels Differ between Week and Weekend Days in British Preschool Children.

Participation in physical activity (PA) is fundamental to children's future health. Studies examining the temporal pattern of PA between weekdays and weekends in British preschool children are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare PA levels between week and weekend days for UK preschool children, using objective measurements.

Accelerometer-based physical activity levels, fundamental movement skills and weight status in British preschool children from a deprived area.

Preschool children are recommended to participate in a minimum of 180-min physical activity (PA) per day to enhance their development and overall health. Low PA and increased obesity are thought to be linked to low mastery of fundamental movement skills (FMS) in preschool children. This study sought to investigate whether FMS influences PA levels and weight status in preschool children, in an area of low socioeconomic status.

Estimating Physical Activity in Children Aged 8-11 Years Using Accelerometry: Contributions From Fundamental Movement Skills and Different Accelerometer Placements.

Accelerometers are widely used to assess physical activity, but it is unclear how effective accelerometers are in capturing fundamental movement skills in children. This study examined the energy expenditure during different physical activities (PA) and calibrated triaxial accelerometry, worn at the wrist, waist and ankle, during children's PA with attention to object control movement skills and cycling. Thirty children (14 girls) aged 8 to 11 years wore a GENEActiv accelerometer on their non-dominant wrist, dominant wrist, waist and ankle.

Calibration of GENEActiv accelerometer wrist cut-points for the assessment of physical activity intensity of preschool aged children.

Unlabelled: This study sought to validate cut-points for use of wrist-worn GENEActiv accelerometer data, to analyse preschool children's (4 to 5 year olds) physical activity (PA) levels via calibration with oxygen consumption values (VO). This was a laboratory-based calibration study. Twenty-one preschool children, aged 4.