Details

Purpose: To share diverse and innovative approaches for improving physical activity from infancy to adolescence

Rationale: Physical inactivity is a global pandemic. This problem starts in infancy and persists, and gets worse into childhood and adolescence, where more than 80% of the world's adolescent population is insufficiently physically active. Preventing physical inactivity should start in early childhood, and requires diverse strategies targeting the community, educational settings, caregivers and families.

Objectives: The purpose of this symposium is to provide insights into innovative physical activity and sedentary behaviour research from infancy to adolescence. This is a broad and complex topic and we will focus on three key areas: 1) Professional development of childcare educators; 2) Screen time management programs for children and families; 3) The role of physical literacy on adolescent physical activity. 

Summary: Preventing physical inactivity should start in infancy and requires innovative and effective strategies. Presenters from Spain, Portugal, and Australia will share diverse approaches to physical activity research, specific to population groups and countries.

Format: Dr. Contardo Ayala (Chair) will introduce the symposium topic and the three symposium presenters (10 minutes).

Dr Sousa-Sa. (Portugal) will discuss the positive effects of an affordable intervention targeting the professional development of childcare educators (The Get-Up study), on sitting time, physical activity, cognitive development and motor development in toddlers (10mins).

Dr Arundell (Australia) will share how parents are urgently seeking help to manage children’s screen time at home. Findings provide insights into the preferred delivery, strategy design and content and engagement maintenance strategies, important for the development of a screen time management program (10 mins).

Dr Estevan (Spain) will share how psychosocial factors related to adolescents' self-perception impact their physical activity. Findings have direct implications for physical education teachers who are encouraged to foster psychological, social, cognitive and physical aspects of physical literacy when addressing adolescent physical activity (10mins).

Dr. Lander (Discussant) will provide an overall discussion of the symposium highlighting implications for practice, followed by an interactive Q & A discussion session (20 minutes).

Interaction: Attendees will be encouraged to engage in a Q & A session with the multi-disciplinary, international panel. Attendees will be invited to reflect on their own country, context and research perspective, identify collaborative opportunities, and reflect on ways this symposium may influence their own work.

Speaker