Physical activity level of kindergarten staff working with toddlers and older children in Norway

The study investigates the extent to which kindergarten employees in Norway meet the public health recommendations for daily activity levels (minimum 150 minutes moderate to high physical activity per week), and whether there are differences between the activity level of kindergarten employees in a toddler department (children 1–3 years old) and in a department for older children (4–6 years old). The study includes both kindergarten employees’ working hours and leisure time. The study aims to answer three research questions: (1) What proportion of kindergarten employees meet the recommendations for physical activity given by the Norwegian public health authorities? (2) Are there differences in the level of activity among employees in toddler departments and employees in departments for older children? (3) To what extent do working hours and leisure time help kindergarten employees meet the recommendations on physical activity?

The study shows that 86% of kindergarten employees met the public health recommendations of a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to high physical activity per week. The study also shows that kindergarten employees in departments for older children were more physically active than kindergarten employees in toddler departments, but that these differences were caused by differences in activity levels during leisure time, not during working hours.

Measurements of activity levels among 43 kindergarten employees were carried out using accelerometers and questionnaires.

Kippe, K. & Lagestad, P. (2020). “Physical activity level of kindergarten staff working with toddlers and older children in Norway”. Work, 66(2020):221-228.