A Good Start Matters Intervention Study

A Good Start Matters: Do Supportive Childcare Centre Environments, Policies and Practices Enhance Physical Activity?

The BC government and partners developed Active Play Standards and a capacity-building strategy to help childcare centers implement the Standards. We have developed an intervention to supplement the governmental capacity-building strategies. The intervention is comprised of implementation support strategies targeted at childcare providers in BC that will aid with the sustainment of Active Play best practices at their facilities. The impact of the intervention will be assessed by measuring its impact on a) change in practices with respect to Active Play; and b) improving child-level outcomes (children's physical activity, sedentary behavior, and motor skill competencies). The findings will inform future policies and enhance our understanding of how policy action supported by communication, capacity-building, and sustainment strategies influence the environment of childcare centres.

The Director of Licensing Standard of Practice - Active Play (Active Play Standard), mandates the provision of Active Play opportunities (amount of time spent outdoor, amount of physical activity, provision of fundamental skills) in licensed childcare centers in British Columbia, Canada. To support the implementation of this standard, the province released a capacity-building intervention, called Appetite to Play (ATP). Appetite to Play provides training and support to childcare providers in enhancing physical activity, physical literacy, and healthy eating environments in their facilities. To encourage the sustained use of ATP and aid childcare facilities in maintaining their adherence to the Active Play Standard, we have developed an intervention called, Appetite to Play +, targeted at facility managers and staff. The intervention builds upon ATP and is considered advanced training for childhood educators. The intervention involves the implementation of support strategies focused on integrating Active Play and fundamental movement skills into scheduling, curriculum planning, and creating a supportive environment for Active Play and healthy eating in childcare facilities.

Inclusion Criteria for childcare center:

• Located in the Metro Vancouver region
• Provides care to at least 10 children older than 2 1/2 years and younger than 6 years
• Childcare program that is longer than 4 hours each day

Inclusion for child outcomes / measurement

• children must attend a childcare that has volunteered to participate in the study
• Child must be older than 2 1/2 years and younger than 6 years of age

Inclusion Criteria for managers and staff childcare centers:

- Managers at licensed BC childcare facilities, working full time (at least 3 full days per week) in a facility for children aged 2½ to 6 years, defined as an Executive Director, supervisor, or program manager. Aged 19 years or older.

OR

- Childcare staff at licensed BC childcare facilities, working full time (at least 3 full days per week), defined as Early Childhood Educator, instructor, or staff that cares for 2½ to 6-year-old children. Aged 19 years or older.

Exclusion Criteria for childcare center:

• Located outside Metro Vancouver region
• Facilities caring only for children under 2 1/2 years old or older than 6 years
• Family or in-home multi-age childcare

Exclusion Criteria for managers and staff childcare centers:

• Do not care or supervise 2 ½ to 6 years old children
• Work less than 3 full days per week
• Administrative assistant/office manager
• Younger than 19 years of age