Active Learning Norwegian Preschool(er)s (ACTNOW)
Active Learning Norwegian Preschool(er)s (ACTNOW) is a large research- and development project involving professional development for increased physical activity in preschool. Aims of the project are to develop and implement an effective and sustainable model for professional development of preschool staff and to investigate how physical activity affects children’s physical, motor skill, socio-emotional, and cognitive development.
Physical activity in preschool
Physical activity plays a key role in promotion of child health and development from an early age. Yet, there are growing concerns about low physical activity levels among preschoolers. As 97% of 3-5-year-olds in Norway attend preschool and get most of their daily activity in care, preschools are unique arenas for promotion of physical activity, health and development, giving every child the best start in life.
Aim
The aim of ACTNOW is to develop and implement an effective and sustainable model for professional development of preschool staff and for increased physical activity in preschools, to shift societies toward a more active way of life, to improve children’s health and development, and to reduce social inequality from an early age. Through this approach, we aim to facilitate innovation in the public sector, to shape future public health and early childhood education policy, and to lay the foundation for a physically active, equitable, and sustainable society.
Video presenting the project
Professional development
The intervention is a 7 month professional development for preschool staff, with an option to achieve 15 credits, and additional collaboration and follow-up for one year. Thus, the total duration of the intervention is 18 months. The project has two waves, 2019-2021 and 2020-2022, where different preschools is included. The professional development is focused around physical activity, play, health, development and learning in preschoolers and development work in preschool. The intervention is developed with strong user involvement from preschool owners and relevant stakeholders to facilitate the development of feasible and sustainable models of professional development.
Evaluation
The project will be evaluated on the preschool level as well as the child level over 18 months in a large sample of preschools in western Norway. On the preschool level, we will investigate how the intervention affects preschool practices related to physical activity. On the child level, we will investigate how the intervention affects children’s physical, motor skill, socio-emotional, and cognitive development.
Intervention research during early years
Through ACTNOW, we aim to build a nationally and internationally leading transdisciplinary research group on intervention research integrating physical activity, public health, and early childhood education that will be a springboard for efforts to promote physical activity and human capital in young children.
Publications
Aadland KN, Lervåg A, Ommundsen Y, Aadland E. Structural validity of the Norwegian version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in children aged 3-6 years. Frontiers of Psychology 2022, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1024918
Krogager Albertsen H, Aadland KN, Johannessen K, Jones R, Aadland E. Associations between the movement environment and preschooler’s physical activity and sedentary time in Norwegian preschools. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal 2022, https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2022.2147562
Aadland E, Nilsen AKO, Haugland ES, Vabø KB, Aadland KN. The multivariate physical activity signatures associated with body mass index and waist-to-height ratio in 3–5-year-old Norwegian children. Preventive Medicine Reports 2022: 29: 101930 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101930
Aadland KN, Nilsen AKO, Lervåg AO, Aadland E. Structural validity of a test battery for assessment of fundamental movement skills in Norwegian 3–6-year-old children. Journal of Sports Sciences 2022, https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2022.2100622
Vabø KB, Aadland KN, Howard SJ, Aadland E. The multivariate physical activity signatures associated with self-regulation, executive function, and early academic learning in 3–5-year-old children. Frontiers in Psychology 2022: 13: 842271. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.842271
Aadland E, Tjomsland HE, Johannessen K, Nilsen AKO, Resaland GK, Glosvik Ø, Lykkebø O, Stokke R, Andersen LB, Anderssen SA, Pfeiffer KA, Tomporowski PD, Størksen I, Bartholomew JB, Ommundsen Y, Howard SJ, Okely AD, Aadland KN. Active Learning Norwegian Preschool(er)s (ACTNOW) – design of a cluster randomized controlled trial of staff professional development to promote physical activity, motor skills, and cognition in preschoolers. Frontiers in Psychology 2020: 11:1382, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01382
Sharing of data
Data from the ACTNOW project can be shared with other researchers to investigate new research questions. Data that is shared is de-identified and thus appears anonymous to researchers who received data as they cannot link the information to participants in the project (pseudonymisation). All sharing of data is cleared with/is in agreement with the data protection officer at HVL.
Overview of new use of data:
- Global estimates for physical activity, sedentary time and sleep, University of Wollongong, Australia (31.01.2022)
- The Sleep and Activity Database for the Early Years (SADEY), University of Wollongong, Australia (13.12.2022)
