Mobile apps designed for preschoolers produce comparable physical activity outcomes to traditional physical education activities.

Abstract

Background: Globally, preschoolers' physical activity (PA) levels are lower than recommended. Digital interventions involving child-centered approaches hold promise for increasing PA behaviors. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the acute effects of 3 custom mobile apps, Foods & Moves, on preschooler's PA outcomes in comparison with traditional physical education (PE) activities as part of the HEalthy EnviROnments (HEROs) Study.

Methods: Thirty-one children (17 boys, X_age =4.3±0.5 years; 42% Hispanic) participated in a 6-week parent-child intervention aimed at enhancing healthy eating and PA behaviors. Children's PA outcomes, including percentage of time spent in moderate PA (MPA%), vigorous PA (VPA%), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA%), and cadence (steps/minute), were collected by ActiGraph GT9X Link accelerometers on each of the 3 apps (Jungle Gym, Jungle Gym-2, Spin-n-Move) and 2 traditional PE activities (obstacle course and PA skill building) during weekly workshops.

Results: Linear models revealed condition differences in VPA% [F(4,147) =10.18, P<0.001, η² =0.22], MVPA% [F(4,147) =13.46, P<0.001, η² =0.26], and cadence [F(4,147) =20.88, P<0.001, η² =0.35]. Pairwise comparisons indicated that VPA% for PA skill building, Jungle Gym, and Jungle Gym-2 was higher than the obstacle course (all P<0.001). MVPA% and cadence in PA skill building, Jungle Gym, Jungle Gym-2, and Spin-n-Move were higher compared to the obstacle course (all P<0.001).

Conclusions: The Foods & Moves apps prompted a considerable proportion of high-intensity PA, which is comparable to or higher than traditional PE activities, demonstrating the potential to use digital strategies to promote PA in preschoolers.