Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80532, USA.
Prevention Research Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Aug 31;18(17):9196. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18179196.
: Establishing physical activity (PA) and motor behaviors in early childhood are important for developing healthy activity behaviors. Parents play a central role in shaping young children's PA and fundamental motor skills (FMS). This qualitative study explored parents' attributes, values, perceptions, and practices related to PA and FMS. Thirty-one parents (26 mothers) of preschool-aged children participated in semi-structured in-person interviews. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed using an iterative approach. Four themes related to PA and FMS emerged: (1) parent attributes; (2) parent-child interactions; (3) parent perception of children's attributes; and (4) parenting practices. Although most parents enjoyed playing with their child, some did not realize the importance of engaging in PA with their child and even believed that FMS are naturally developed. Parents indicated that children's temperament may influence their preference for practicing motor skills. Social support and positive parenting practices, including encouragement, monitoring, logistical support, co-participation, and facilitation, are important for the development of PA and FMS. The findings add emphasis to the importance of parents' role in the development of young children's PA and FMS, and they inform future strategies aiming to promote young children's activity behaviors.
: 在儿童早期建立身体活动（PA）和运动行为对于培养健康的活动行为很重要。父母在塑造幼儿的 PA 和基本运动技能（FMS）方面起着核心作用。本定性研究探讨了父母与 PA 和 FMS 相关的属性、价值观、观念和实践。31 名幼儿（26 名母亲）的父母参加了半结构化的面对面访谈。访谈进行了录音，逐字转录，使用迭代方法进行编码和分析。出现了四个与 PA 和 FMS 相关的主题：（1）父母的属性；（2）父母与孩子的互动；（3）父母对孩子属性的看法；（4）育儿实践。尽管大多数父母喜欢与孩子一起玩耍，但有些父母没有意识到与孩子一起进行 PA 的重要性，甚至认为 FMS 是自然发展的。父母表示，孩子的气质可能会影响他们对练习运动技能的偏好。社会支持和积极的育儿实践，包括鼓励、监督、后勤支持、共同参与和促进，对 PA 和 FMS 的发展很重要。研究结果强调了父母在培养幼儿 PA 和 FMS 方面的作用的重要性，并为未来旨在促进幼儿活动行为的策略提供了信息。
