Seasonal variations in physical activity and sedentary behavior among preschool children in a Central China city

Purpose: Seasonality is an important factor in children's physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB); thus, the aim of this study was to explore the seasonal characteristics of Chinese preschool children's PA and SB. Method: Preschool children (n = 65) from a kindergarten middle class in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan Province in Central China, were recruited, and a three-axis accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X-BT) was used to longitudinally track their PA and SB status. One-way repeated-measures ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and Friedman tests were employed for analysis, with significance set at P <.05. Results: The levels of both total of physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were the highest in spring and the lowest in winter. The level of SB was the opposite, being the lowest in spring and the highest in winter, whereas there were no significant differences in light physical activity across different seasons. The seasonality of PA in preschool children may be influenced by several factors, such as gender, time period, preschool education curriculum, and weather conditions. Conclusions: Seasonal variation in PA and SB are considered important for child educators, who should combine related factors to construct potentially ideal interventions to promote the PA of children during different seasons.