Physical activity, sedentary behavior and screen time in young toddlers (1–2 years old) attending Spanish ECEC institutions

Objectives: This study was designed with three primary objectives: (a) to evaluate the levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in toddlers during the school day at ECEC institutions in Spain; (b) to establish the rate of adherence to specific recommendations for total physical a...

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Autores: Vega Perona, Herminia, Filenko , Nataliya, Azorín Delegido, José Manuel, Martínez Bello, Daniel A, Bernabé Villodre, María del Mar, Martínez Bello, Vladimir E, Gértrudix Barrio, Felipe
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha
Repositorio:RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM
OAI Identifier:oai:ruidera.uclm.es:10578/47141
Acceso en línea:https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2026.1735315
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1735315/full
https://hdl.handle.net/10578/47141
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Early years
Physical activity
Screen time
Sleep
Toddlers
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spelling Physical activity, sedentary behavior and screen time in young toddlers (1–2 years old) attending Spanish ECEC institutionsVega Perona, HerminiaFilenko , NataliyaAzorín Delegido, José ManuelMartínez Bello, Daniel ABernabé Villodre, María del MarMartínez Bello, Vladimir EGértrudix Barrio, FelipeEarly yearsPhysical activityScreen timeSleepToddlersObjectives: This study was designed with three primary objectives: (a) to evaluate the levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in toddlers during the school day at ECEC institutions in Spain; (b) to establish the rate of adherence to specific recommendations for total physical activity (TPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sleep, and screen time; and (c) to characterize the relationship between individual and socioenvironmental correlates and toddlers’ TPA, light physical activity (LPA), MVPA, and SB during the school day.Methods: This study recruited 264 toddlers (14–23 months) via convenience sampling from public ECEC institutions across three cities. PA was quantified using ActiGraph accelerometry. Sleep behavior was evaluated using the Spanish version of the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ-E), which was completed by parents. Parents reported their toddler’s average screen time.Results: (a) ECEC settings significantly contribute to young children achieving daily TPA recommendations (72%), despite high sedentary time (69%) during school hours. (b) Age positively correlated with LPA (ß = 0.003, 95% confidence interval (CI) [CI 0.001, 0.005], p < 0.006), MVPA (ß = 0.002, 95% CI [0.000, 0.003], p = 0.004]), and TPA (ß = -0.005, 95% CI [0.002, 0.008], p = 0.001) and inversely with SB (ß = -0.005, 95% CI [0.0082, 0.002], p = 0.001). (c) No associations were found for gender, BMI, or other personal and social factors with any PA/SB variables. (d) Most young children (64%) exceeded screen time recommendations, while sleep guidelines were largely met (81% adherence); however, no association was between these variables and PA and SB were found. (e) After ECEC hours, unstructured outdoor recreation was strongly preferred over structured activities, and visiting a park at least three times per week was associated with MVPA (ß = -0.007, 95% CI [-0.015, 0.001], p = 0.05).Conclusion: Parents need to be aware of their influence on children’s media habits, and ECEC settings should develop strategies to reduce excessive screen time. A balanced approach to PA, reduced sedentary time, and limited screen exposure—alongside healthy sleep habits supported by such routines—is consistently linked in emerging evidence to better early childhood wellbeing.Frontiers202620262026info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttps://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2026.1735315https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1735315/fullhttps://hdl.handle.net/10578/47141reponame:RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLMinstname:Universidad de Castilla-La ManchaInglésGrant PID2022-141095NB-I00info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:ruidera.uclm.es:10578/471412026-05-27T07:36:41Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Physical activity, sedentary behavior and screen time in young toddlers (1–2 years old) attending Spanish ECEC institutions
title Physical activity, sedentary behavior and screen time in young toddlers (1–2 years old) attending Spanish ECEC institutions
spellingShingle Physical activity, sedentary behavior and screen time in young toddlers (1–2 years old) attending Spanish ECEC institutions
Vega Perona, Herminia
Early years
Physical activity
Screen time
Sleep
Toddlers
title_short Physical activity, sedentary behavior and screen time in young toddlers (1–2 years old) attending Spanish ECEC institutions
title_full Physical activity, sedentary behavior and screen time in young toddlers (1–2 years old) attending Spanish ECEC institutions
title_fullStr Physical activity, sedentary behavior and screen time in young toddlers (1–2 years old) attending Spanish ECEC institutions
title_full_unstemmed Physical activity, sedentary behavior and screen time in young toddlers (1–2 years old) attending Spanish ECEC institutions
title_sort Physical activity, sedentary behavior and screen time in young toddlers (1–2 years old) attending Spanish ECEC institutions
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Vega Perona, Herminia
Filenko , Nataliya
Azorín Delegido, José Manuel
Martínez Bello, Daniel A
Bernabé Villodre, María del Mar
Martínez Bello, Vladimir E
Gértrudix Barrio, Felipe
author Vega Perona, Herminia
author_facet Vega Perona, Herminia
Filenko , Nataliya
Azorín Delegido, José Manuel
Martínez Bello, Daniel A
Bernabé Villodre, María del Mar
Martínez Bello, Vladimir E
Gértrudix Barrio, Felipe
author_role author
author2 Filenko , Nataliya
Azorín Delegido, José Manuel
Martínez Bello, Daniel A
Bernabé Villodre, María del Mar
Martínez Bello, Vladimir E
Gértrudix Barrio, Felipe
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Early years
Physical activity
Screen time
Sleep
Toddlers
topic Early years
Physical activity
Screen time
Sleep
Toddlers
description Objectives: This study was designed with three primary objectives: (a) to evaluate the levels of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) in toddlers during the school day at ECEC institutions in Spain; (b) to establish the rate of adherence to specific recommendations for total physical activity (TPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sleep, and screen time; and (c) to characterize the relationship between individual and socioenvironmental correlates and toddlers’ TPA, light physical activity (LPA), MVPA, and SB during the school day.Methods: This study recruited 264 toddlers (14–23 months) via convenience sampling from public ECEC institutions across three cities. PA was quantified using ActiGraph accelerometry. Sleep behavior was evaluated using the Spanish version of the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ-E), which was completed by parents. Parents reported their toddler’s average screen time.Results: (a) ECEC settings significantly contribute to young children achieving daily TPA recommendations (72%), despite high sedentary time (69%) during school hours. (b) Age positively correlated with LPA (ß = 0.003, 95% confidence interval (CI) [CI 0.001, 0.005], p < 0.006), MVPA (ß = 0.002, 95% CI [0.000, 0.003], p = 0.004]), and TPA (ß = -0.005, 95% CI [0.002, 0.008], p = 0.001) and inversely with SB (ß = -0.005, 95% CI [0.0082, 0.002], p = 0.001). (c) No associations were found for gender, BMI, or other personal and social factors with any PA/SB variables. (d) Most young children (64%) exceeded screen time recommendations, while sleep guidelines were largely met (81% adherence); however, no association was between these variables and PA and SB were found. (e) After ECEC hours, unstructured outdoor recreation was strongly preferred over structured activities, and visiting a park at least three times per week was associated with MVPA (ß = -0.007, 95% CI [-0.015, 0.001], p = 0.05).Conclusion: Parents need to be aware of their influence on children’s media habits, and ECEC settings should develop strategies to reduce excessive screen time. A balanced approach to PA, reduced sedentary time, and limited screen exposure—alongside healthy sleep habits supported by such routines—is consistently linked in emerging evidence to better early childhood wellbeing.
publishDate 2026
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2026
2026
2026
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2026.1735315
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1735315/full
https://hdl.handle.net/10578/47141
url https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2026.1735315
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/education/articles/10.3389/feduc.2026.1735315/full
https://hdl.handle.net/10578/47141
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Grant PID2022-141095NB-I00
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Frontiers
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Frontiers
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM
instname:Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha
instname_str Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha
reponame_str RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM
collection RUIdeRA. Repositorio Institucional de la UCLM
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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