Overview of physical activity promotion in day care centres in Germany. Results of a cross-sectional survey of the BeweKi project.

Abstract

Background: Physical activity promotion should start early, as a physical active lifestyle is easier to establish at a young age and can have a positive impact into adulthood. Day care centres are particularly suitable for promoting physical activity, as over 90 % of children aged three and above attend a day care centre. Despite numerous programmes, there is a lack of scientific data on the prevalence of specific measures and insufficient evidence on factors influencing their implementation.

Methods: The survey on the status of physical activity promotion in day care centres (BeweKi survey 2022/2023) asked day care centre directors about structural conditions and pedagogical staff about physical activity-related personal characteristics. Data is available for 1,647 day care centres.

Results: Most day care centres engaged in walks, excursions, and used (external) sport halls at least once per week to promote physical activity, while digital resources or swimming pools were used very rarely. Almost all provided at least one hour of free physical activity time per day. Only a quarter offered an equally long period of structured units for physical activity, for which regular team discussions on physical activity, sufficient area in the day care centre and staff moving together with children were enabling factors.

Conclusions: Physical activity promotion is widespread in day care centres, but structured physical activity time is not sufficiently established. To increase this, spatial and organisational conditions could be addressed, as well as staff physical activity behaviour.