Abstract
Background: Evidence on toddlers’ compliance with 24-hour movement behaviour (24hMB) guidelines is scarce, and little is known about its link with motor competence (MC). Exploring this association may provide valuable insights for promoting healthy development early in life.
Methods: Forty-two toddlers aged 18-30 months, not attending childcare centres, were fitted with waist-worn ActiGraph wGT3X accelerometers for 7 consecutive days to measure physical activity (PA). The data were analysed using cut-points for toddlers (Trost et al., 2012). Sleep duration and screen time were quantified using proxy-reported diaries. Toddlers’ gross MC and fine MC were assessed using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, 3rd. One-sample t-tests were used to compare our sample to the PDMS-3 normative means, and correlation analyses were conducted to examine associations between 24hMB and MC.
Results: Thirty-two toddlers provided valid accelerometer data, and 31 diaries were correctly filled in. Only two toddlers (6.25%, [66-205 minutes/day]) complied to the 180 minutes PA guideline, 13 toddlers (41.94%, [0-272 minutes/day]) complied to the screen time guideline (0 hours/day for 1-year-olds and 1 hour/day for 2-year-olds), and 23 toddlers (74.19%, [9.25-12.78 hours/day) complied to the 11-14 hours sleep guideline. The study sample scored significantly higher on fine MC (V=550.000, p=0.009, r=0.486) compared to the normative mean. No significant difference was found for gross MC. Higher screen time was significantly associated with lower fine MC (ρ=-0.450, p=0.011, z=-0.484), however this analysis was partly driven by outliers, and the correlation did not survive outlier removal analysis. No other associations were found between 24hMB and MC.
Conclusion: Based on the current data, we suggest adequate MC, but insufficient PA and too high screen time to possibly drive MC decreases at a later age. Future research is needed to further examine the 24hMB guidelines, and methodological approaches allowing for validated recommendations.
Methods: Forty-two toddlers aged 18-30 months, not attending childcare centres, were fitted with waist-worn ActiGraph wGT3X accelerometers for 7 consecutive days to measure physical activity (PA). The data were analysed using cut-points for toddlers (Trost et al., 2012). Sleep duration and screen time were quantified using proxy-reported diaries. Toddlers’ gross MC and fine MC were assessed using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, 3rd. One-sample t-tests were used to compare our sample to the PDMS-3 normative means, and correlation analyses were conducted to examine associations between 24hMB and MC.
Results: Thirty-two toddlers provided valid accelerometer data, and 31 diaries were correctly filled in. Only two toddlers (6.25%, [66-205 minutes/day]) complied to the 180 minutes PA guideline, 13 toddlers (41.94%, [0-272 minutes/day]) complied to the screen time guideline (0 hours/day for 1-year-olds and 1 hour/day for 2-year-olds), and 23 toddlers (74.19%, [9.25-12.78 hours/day) complied to the 11-14 hours sleep guideline. The study sample scored significantly higher on fine MC (V=550.000, p=0.009, r=0.486) compared to the normative mean. No significant difference was found for gross MC. Higher screen time was significantly associated with lower fine MC (ρ=-0.450, p=0.011, z=-0.484), however this analysis was partly driven by outliers, and the correlation did not survive outlier removal analysis. No other associations were found between 24hMB and MC.
Conclusion: Based on the current data, we suggest adequate MC, but insufficient PA and too high screen time to possibly drive MC decreases at a later age. Future research is needed to further examine the 24hMB guidelines, and methodological approaches allowing for validated recommendations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Unpublished - 16 Sept 2025 |
| Event | KAGO-meeting - University of Agder, Kristiasand, Norway Duration: 15 Sept 2025 → 17 Sept 2025 |
Conference
| Conference | KAGO-meeting |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Norway |
| City | Kristiasand |
| Period | 15/09/25 → 17/09/25 |