Physical Activity Amount in Preschool-Age Children: The Influence of Maternal vs. Paternal Involvement

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the amount of physical activity preschool-age children obtain when playing with their mother compared to when playing with their father. Methods: Participants included 22 fathers, 28 mothers (≥ 19 years old) and their preschool-aged (3-5 years old) child. The parent-child dyads (N = 50) attended a 45-minute visit at ECU’s Activity Promotion Laboratory, during which they completed informed consent, anthropometric measurements, questionnaires on demographics and family physical activity, and received activity monitors. Then the participants engaged in a 20-minute play session while direct observations were recorded by research staff. A variety of sedentary and physical activity options were offered, including coloring books, puzzles, legos, books, balls for playing catch, cones, a soccer ball, and different obstacles such as rope ladder on the floor surrounded by poly spots, a pop-up tunnel, and various gymnastics mats. Demographic variables and total accelerometer counts were calculated as percentages, mean, and standard deviation as necessary. A student’s t-test was used to compare the preschool-age child’s total activity counts in the mother-child dyads versus father-child dyads. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Results: Participants were predominantly White, with parents averaging 38 ± 4.25 years and a BMI of 27.41 ± 6.31 kg/m², and children around 3.5 ± .73 years with a BMI of 15.99 ± 1.47 kg/m². Most parents had some college education and worked full-time, with more fathers employed full-time than mothers. Over a 20-minute play session, preschool children’s activity levels were similar when playing with mothers (M = 45390 ± 21238 counts) versus fathers (M = 41102 ± 23951 counts), p = .51, d = .19, indicating minimal difference based on parent sex. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed no significant difference between the mother-child and father-child dyads, indicating similar activity levels regardless of parent sex. This suggests that parent involvement, rather than parent sex, influences early childhood physical activity levels during co-participation of physical activity. Pediatricians, educators, and policymakers can utilize this insight to develop inclusive, family-based interventions that encourage co-participation across various settings. Facilitating parental involvement at home and in the community may enhance physical activity levels, supporting healthy growth and lifelong habits. Overall, both parents appear equally capable of promoting physical activity in their preschool-age child, emphasizing the importance of family engagement in early physical activity promotion.