The present literature supports the importance of physical activity from a very early age. However, there is a lack of information about evidence-based motor programs suitable for supporting ...preschoolers' development in Italy. The Animal Fun program, developed in Australia, might be a valuable tool to promote children's development. The aim of this study was to use Animal Fun to verify the motor improvements in balance, aiming and catching, and the manual skills of Italian preschoolers. One hundred nineteen preschool children (3- to 6-year- olds) from three Italian kindergartens were recruited. The kindergartens were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children - 2 (MABC-2) was administered to all children at the baseline and one-month follow-up. The kindergarten assigned to the control group followed the standard curriculum, involving general physical activity; the kindergartens assigned to the Animal Fun group followed the Animal Fun program activities (thirty minutes, three times a week). Data demonstrated the statistical differences between the scores of the two groups in each domain and total score of the MABC-2 (aiming and catching, balance, and manual dexterity). The results of this study suggest that Animal Fun can support the motor improvements of Italian preschoolers and that it is applicable in the Italian context, where there is a lack of movement programs supporting the development of young children with and without motor difficulties.
This study aimed to measure tripartite group area using motion capture systems and investigated whether group area could be used as a measure of pre-school children’s social interactions. In ...Experiment 1, two typically developing girls and an adult staff member engaged in free play. In Experiment 2, two typically developing boys and two adult staff members played balloon volleyball. Both experiments had three types of measures: subjective evaluation of whether participants played together, social behaviours (e.g. eye contact for Experiment 1 and balloon tosses for Experiment 2) and group area. Results showed that group area was significantly and negatively related to subjective evaluation in Experiment 2, whereas we observed no relationship between subjective evaluation and group area in Experiment 1. Overall, however, only a low correlation was observed between subjective evaluation and group area in Experiment 2. Furthermore, there were strong sequential associations between subjective evaluation and social behaviour, rather than between subjective evaluation and group area. Although group area as an index of social interactions is less accurate than behavioural data directly observed by humans, it may be worth using as a low-cost preliminary measure, since it can be automatically calculated using motion capture systems.
The main goal of this study was to develop a well-balanced jam with high quality and nutritional value from dates fruits and pumpkin for pre-schoolchildren to improve their health and nutritional ...status. The developed product was subjected to physicochemical, chemical, color, nutritional, sensory and statistical evaluations. From the main results obtained in this study, the newly developed jam product was found to have high quality and appreciable amounts of minerals (650.56 K, 126.06 Ca, 4.21 Fe and 1.24 Zn mg/100 g), beta-carotene (175.4 μg/100 g) and energy contents (307.26 kcal/100 g) to meet partially the daily-recommended nutrients for young children. In addition to that, the product was found within the recommended levels of total soluble solids (70.19%), pH (3.33), acidity (0.79%) and viscosity (1806 Cp) of jam specifications and was highly preferred by the panelists. Therefore, it can be concluded that the newly developed jam product could be used as a healthy food for young children to reduce their energy, minerals and vitamin deficiencies in young children, especially in the Kingdom and other Gulf countries
This study examined whether adaptive behaviour, emotional and behavioural challenges, and social skills, respectively, moderated the effect of a movement skill intervention on movement skills among ...preschool aged children with autism spectrum disorder. Twenty-seven participants with autism spectrum disorder (N = 13 experimental) between 3 and 5 years of age participated in a 12-week fundamental movement skill intervention. Movement skills were assessed at baseline and post-test. Adaptive behaviour, emotional and behavioural challenges, and social skills were assessed at baseline. A repeated-measures analysis of variance tested the group by time effect on movement skills. Three separate moderation analyses were then run to test the moderating effect of adaptive behaviour, emotional and behavioural challenges, and social skills, respectively, on the relationship between group assignment and movement skills at the post-test. The experimental group significantly improved their movement skills following the intervention (p = 0.02, ηp2=.19). The moderation analyses showed that adaptive behaviour (b(SE) = 0.86 (0.41), p < 0.05) and emotional and behavioural challenges (b(SE) = −1.5 (0.8), p = 0.06) at baseline moderated the association between group and post-test movement skills, when controlling for baseline movement skills. These findings may help caregivers and clinicians individualize treatment plans in regard to movement skill interventions for preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder.
Lay abstract
It is common for children with autism spectrum disorder to experience delays in their movement skills. These skills are important for participation in play and physical activity. Previous research has found that movement skills can be improved with movement skill interventions. This study explored the behavioural factors of young children with autism spectrum disorder that make them most likely to improve their movement skills following a 12-week intervention. The study found that children with higher levels of adaptive behaviour and lower levels of emotional and behavioural challenges at the start of the intervention were more likely to have greater improvements in their movement skills following the intervention. These findings may help clinicians and caregivers plan which types of interventions are best suited for individual children with autism spectrum disorder.
Evidence from developed countries on the association between greenspace and childhood respiratory health has been inconsistent whilst such evidence is largely lacking in the developing world where ...rapid urbanization is occurring. This study aimed to investigate the associations between surrounding greenness, air pollution and respiratory health among pre-school children in a rapidly developing city in China.
We recruited 2920 pre-school children in Taiyuan city. Greenness exposure was represented by the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) which combined estimations based on a weighted mean that children spend time both in kindergarten and home (75% home, 25% kindergarten). Air pollution exposures were estimated from a land-use-regression model which was also calculated based on a weighted mean as with greenness. Logistic regression was performed to assess the relationships between greenness, air pollution and respiratory symptoms.
Greenness had negatively impacted respiratory health among pre-school children in Taiyuan city, particularly for current dry cough at night. A 0.1-unit increment for NDVI300m was associated with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 2.45 (95%CI: 1.33–4.53) for dry cough at night. The associations were robust after adjusting for air pollution and road condition. No statistically significant associations were found between air pollution and any symptoms. The mediating effect of air pollution on dry cough at night with greenness was not observed.
Our study found that within different buffers, a higher level of greenness was consistently associated with a higher risk of dry cough at night among pre-school children. This finding has indicated that environmental policies on urban greening should be scientifically justified to protect respiratory health among young children.
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•Surrounding greenness negatively impacted respiratory health in pre-school children.•Higher greenness may be linked to higher risk of dry cough at night.•Exposing to different levels of PM2.5, NO2 and O3 can increase the associations.
Background: Progress has recently been made in the earlier identification of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Whilst being welcome, this progress to earlier referral and diagnosis ...presents new challenges to clinical practice, including the accuracy and stability of early diagnosis, the utility of standardised assessment instruments with young pre‐schoolers and the ability to indicate prognosis. Method: A selective review of recent research literature on the characteristic features of ASD in pre‐school children. Results: Multidisciplinary diagnostic assessment should include detailed information on developmental history, parents' descriptions of the everyday behaviour and activities of the child, direct assessment of the child's social interaction style, including where possible with age peers, and formal assessment of communicative, intellectual and adaptive function. Clinical assessments need to concentrate on the identification of impairments in early non‐verbal social communication behaviours that characterise children with ASD from the second year of life, including social orienting, joint attention, imitation, play and reciprocal affective behaviour. The particular pattern of symptoms that presents in a 2‐year‐old with ASD may differ from that seen at the more prototypic age of 4 or 5 years. In particular, overt repetitive and stereotyped behaviours may be less notable, although where these are seen alongside the social and communicative impairments they are highly indicative of ASD. The use of standardised assessment instruments and the strict application of the DSM and ICD diagnostic criteria need to be employed with caution, as an expert clinical view has been shown to be more accurate. An important aspect of early diagnostic consultation is an open and straightforward approach to the negotiation of the diagnostic view with parents over time. Conclusions: Earlier diagnosis and rising recognition of ASD have significant implications for primary healthcare and specialist diagnostic and therapeutic services.
Excessive screen time in young children is associated with many harmful consequences including screen dependency. Research has shown a worrying prevalence of media-related dependency among ...adolescents and pre-school children. There are a few available questionnaires among adolescents but none for pre-school children. This study aimed to design and validate a questionnaire to assess screen dependency among pre-school children aged 4 to 6 years old.
A cross-sectional two-phase study was carried out to develop the scale. In phase 1, a preliminary parent-report measure questionnaire was developed in Bahasa Malaysia. Later, it was sent to four experts for content validity followed by face validity. In Phase 2, a total of 386 parents of pre-school children aged 4 to 6 years old, split into two samples, were involved in the field study for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
Sample 1 was used to perform EFA to determine the factorial structure of the SDS. All items with a factor loading of >0.4 were included. Sample 2 was used to perform the CFA. RMSEA and CFI analysis showed that the SDS has a good fit and confirms the dimensional structure found via EFA. The final questionnaire consists of 15 items with a 4 factors' structure and has excellent internal consistency reliability.
The Screen Dependency Scale (SDS) is a reliable and valid questionnaire to detect screen dependency among pre-school children aged 4 to 6 years old in Malaysia.
Movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep) are important for the health and development of pre-school children (aged 3-4 years). There is limited qualitative research ...examining the acceptability and feasibility of tools used to assess movement behaviours in pre-schoolers. This study explored parental views on various measurement tools in three deprived areas in England, UK (West Yorkshire, County Durham and Northumberland). The study consisted of a demonstration of the different tools (accelerometers, a diary and a questionnaire), directly followed by focus group discussions. Three focus group discussions with a total of eleven parents and carers were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed four main themes: (1) importance of contextual information when using any measurement tool (e.g., child illness, capturing different routines); (2) practical issues associated with devices (e.g., aversion to devices being attached directly to the skin of their child; concern of larger devices during sleep time); (3) encouraging children to wear a device (e.g., making devices attractive to children
'superpowers'); and (4) presentation of diaries and questionnaires (e.g., age-appropriate movement activities, preference for real-time recording over recall). Practical recommendations for the use of the tools to measure movement behaviours of pre-school children are provided.
Early detection of developmental delay (DD) in preschool children is crucial for counselling parents, initiating diagnostic work-up, and starting early intervention (EI).
We conducted a register ...study of all preschool children referred for EI in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, in 2017 (N = 1,785) and used an online survey among primary care physicians (PCPs, N = 271) to evaluate the care service of DD children.
PCPs accounted for 79.5% of all referrals by physicians and had correctly referred over 90% of the children in need of EI at an average age of 39.3 months (SD 8.9). In the survey, which represents 59.2% of all pediatricians and 11.3% of all general practitioners in the Canton, PCPs reported performing a mean of 13.5 (range 0-50, SD 10.7) well-child visits per week to preschool children and estimated well-child visits to be the most frequent type of consultation (66.7%) for the identification of DD. Parents' hesitancy in accepting further evaluation or support were reported by 88.7%.
Most preschool children with DD are identified in well-child visits. These visits represent an ideal opportunity for early detection of developmental impairment and initiation of EI. Carefully addressing parents' reservations could reduce the rate of refusal, thus improving early support for children with DD.
Family literacy programmes can take many shapes, and are often focused on training adult caregivers to engage in particular literacy activities with their young children. In this study, through a ...series of five, two-hour workshops, we instead worked to help families take advantage of opportunities to infuse literacy learning into their daily routines with their preschool-aged children. Effects of the workshop include parent reports of increased literacy interactions in the home, particularly in the areas of read-alouds and writing opportunities. In addition, students whose families participated in the workshops showed statistically significantly greater literacy growth in print and word awareness and comprehension than peers whose families did not participate in the workshops.
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