Physical Activity During Early Childhood: The Importance of Parental Modeling

Christine A Crumbley; Tracey A Ledoux; Craig A Johnston

doi:10.1177/1559827619880513

Physical Activity During Early Childhood: The Importance of Parental Modeling

Am J Lifestyle Med. 2019 Oct 14;14(1):32-35. doi: 10.1177/1559827619880513. eCollection 2020 Jan-Feb.

Authors

Christine A Crumbley^{1

2}, Tracey A Ledoux^{1

2}, Craig A Johnston^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ University of Houston, Houston, Texas (CAC, TAL).
² Department of Human Health and Performance, University of Houston, Houston, Texas (CAJ).

Abstract

Increasing physical activity (PA) is a critical issue in improving overall health. Prior attempts by public health campaigns to promote PA through health-focused messaging have faced challenges. As PA and sedentary behaviors are developed during the early childhood period (ages 0 to 5 years), this stage represents a unique opportunity for clinicians to encourage activity at the family level. Clinicians should discuss the holistic benefits of PA, including the development of social skills and relationships, motor skills that could be applicable to sports later in life, and cognitive skills that could translate to academic achievements in school. For PA to occur in children, parents should also be engaged in and model the PA behaviors, increasing the likelihood of young children learning to be physically active.

Keywords: early childhood; obesity; physical activity; prevention.