Little kids are not moving as much as they should be, as a global study unearths that only 14% of preschoolers are meeting current global health guidelines. Appropriate levels of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep (collectively termed movement behaviours) are essential for the healthy growth and development of preschool -aged children . This was the impetus for creating the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years (birth to four years).
Likewise, this is why the World Health Organisation adopted the Canadian guidelines when creating the global guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. Considering the extensive benefits of movement behaviours, it is very alarming that a recent study found that only 14% of preschoolers around the world are meeting movement behaviour guideline recommendations. A 24-hour day in the life of a preschooler meeting the guideline recommendations includes:.