Child, Preschool
Conditions
Keywords
Prevention, Physical activity, Obesity, Motor skills, Kindergarten
Brief summary
Objectives: The PAKT project shall evaluate the effects of an exercise intervention in kindergarten combined with an educational training of parents and kindergarten teachers on behavior and health status of children. Study design: Baseline measurements were performed on more than 700 kindergarten children aged 43-67 months in May to July 2007. The kindergartens are located in and around Wuerzburg in Germany. Kindergartens were then randomized in an intervention (21 kindergartens) and a control (20 kindergartens) group. The intervention group offers a daily exercise class lasting at least 30 min. Parents and teachers of the children in the intervention program receive educational training. In addition, the children have activity homework involving the entire family. The control kindergartens keep their routine. Follow-up measurements of physical activity (actigraph), motor skills, body mass index, skinfold thickness, and blood pressure take place in January/February 2008, June/July 2008, and September/October 2008. The number of accidents in and outside of the kindergartens and the number of children missing the kindergarten due to infections are monitored continuously. Use of results: If the PAKT program should proof effective, the results will be published in scientific journals and made public using the press. With the help of the GEK, the program will then be implemented nationwide in kindergartens.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALphysical activity
activity program at kindergarten 5 \* 30 min per week plus education of parents (letters, flyers, presentations, counselling) plus activity homework for children involving also the families
Sponsors
Gmünder ErsatzKasse GEK
University of Cologne
University of Wuerzburg
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
43 Months to 67 Months
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Children in participating kindergartens
Exclusion criteria
* Health conditions restricting physical activity * Age \< 43 months or \> 67 months
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Physical activity | baseline, after 4-5 and 8-9 months of intervention, 2-4 months after intervention | Accelerometry over 7 days |
| motor skills | baseline, after 4-5 and 8-9 months of intervention, 2-4 months after intervention | Composite score of several motor tasks |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| accidents | baseline, after 4-5 and 8-9 months of intervention, 2-4 months after intervention | — |
| adiposity | baseline, after 4-5 and 8-9 months of intervention, 2-4 months after intervention | BMI, skinfolds |
| television viewing time | baseline, after 4-5 and 8-9 months of intervention, 2-4 months after intervention | — |
| infections | baseline, after 4-5 and 8-9 months of intervention, 2-4 months after intervention | — |
| blood pressure | baseline, after 4-5 and 8-9 months of intervention, 2-4 months after intervention | — |
Outcome results
None listed