Børns fysiske aktivitet i børnehaver. En analyse af 5-6 årige børns muligheder og betingelser for fysisk aktivitet i forskellige børnehaver og den fysiske aktivitets betydning for børns udvikling.

The purpose of this study is to examine how physical frameworks and pedagogical practices affect the physical activity of 5-6-year-old children in kindergarten. Moreover, the purpose is to examine the importance of physical activity for children's development. The study is based on pedagogical work and on the development and activity possibilities offered by kindergartens with a sports profile and conventional kindergartens.

Analysis of the data material shows that structured body and movement activities can be organised such that all children want to participate and that they enjoy being physically active and using their body.

All kindergartens in the study have good frameworks for physical activity. The kindergartens focus on pedagogical objectives for body and movement, and the early childhood educators' perception of the health of kindergarten children is significant for children's level of physical activity. In this context the kindergartens with a sports profile stand out, as they offer more opportunities and better conditions for physical activity than conventional kindergartens. This is partly because of the values of the early childhood educators and partly because the curriculum in the kindergartens with a sports profile places high priority on the joy of movement. The conventional kindergartens focus more on the children's independence and on preparing them for school. This results in the fact that some children are not motivated for, or engage in, physical activities.

The frequency and nature of the activities organised for the children, and whether the early childhood educators prepare the children for being physically active play an important role for the children's level of physical activity. In order to succeed, the early childhood educators must be clear about their expectations to the children in connection with physical activity. The early childhood educators must prepare the children for what is going to happen, and be specific about what exactly the children need to do. The early childhood educators also have to understand that they are role models in the structured, organised physical activities.

The study uses four different research methodologies to elucidate the problem area. The four methodologies are the quantitative assessment tool "Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale Revised edition" (ECERS-R), document analysis, semi-structured interviews and video footage. The ECERS-R tool is used to assess the surroundings, layout and organisation of the kindergarten as well as social interaction between staff and children.

The quantitative part of the data collection was carried out in three kindergartens with a sports profile and 40 conventional kindergartens in Odense Municipality over two periods. In the first period, the material and social frameworks for physical activity at the 43 kindergartens were assessed using parts of ECERS-R. Directly observable conditions were registered. On the basis of these results, three focus kindergartens (one kindergarten with a sports profile and two conventional kindergartens) with same material and social frameworks were selected. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with the managers and the early childhood educators responsible for work with the 5-6-year olds in the three kindergartens. The interviews dealt with staff attitudes towards children's physical activity and health. In addition, video footage was made of six focus children who took part in structured and self-initiated physical activity. One boy and one girl born in 2003 and with a generally high level of physical activity were selected from each institution. Finally the data material consists of a document analysis of the focus kindergartens' curricula as well as of other documents regarding the children's health and physical activity.

Sørensen, H.V. (2013). Børns fysiske aktivitet i børnehaver. En analyse af 5-6 årige børns muligheder og betingelser for fysisk aktivitet i forskellige børnehaver og den fysiske aktivitets betydning for børns udvikling. Ph.d.-afhandling. Syddansk Universitet.