A natural experiment of state-level physical activity and screen-time policy changes early childhood education (ECE) centers and child physical activity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early childhood education (ECE) centers are an important place for preschool-aged children to obtain physical activity (PA). A U.S. state government (Louisiana) recently updated requirements for licensed centers' PA and screen-time policies, which allowed for assessment of 1) ECE center practices, environment, staff behaviors, and policies changes on child-level PA and 2) state level changes on the ECE center.

Methods

ECE centers were assessed at the beginning of state licensing changes and 1-year later. The ECE centers were assessed via the Environmental Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) tool. The EPAO Sedentary Opportunities score, which primarily assesses television viewing time, was revised to reflect viewing non-television devices (e.g. tablets). Child

SUBMITTER: Kracht CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7092539 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature