The main strength of this study is the number of participants (N=172). On the other hand, the children’s age ranged from 3 to 7 years, which makes it difficult to compare the results with some previous studies with more homogeneous age groups. Some additional information about the children’s backgrounds would have enabled more analyses and conclusions about the results.
Accelerometers are considered reliable in studying children’s PA. However, another limitation may be the PAC accelerometer, which is not much used in the research field, and thus the number of studies using the PAC accelerometer with which we can compare our results is limited. Difficulties may be caused by different cut points between the intensity levels and the epochs used in the PAC. For example, VLPA may be recorded too sensitively, as described in discussion. In addition, the volumes of MVPA recorded could have been higher with shorter epochs. However, since they are inexpensive and feasible, we propose additional validation tests for the PAC accelerometer to enhance the validity of the results and to increase the research use of the device in young children.
Another limitation is that we did not take the anthropometric measurements—height and body weight—clinically, since we wanted to simplify the methodology following the results of Reilly et al. (2008). In addition, we did not remove the data if the child was sick and the data were otherwise acceptable, since we wanted to get an overall picture of children’s PA. This certainly reduces the activity volumes and increases VLPA.
Additionally, we did not cover the feature on the PAC face, which might have influenced the results. On the other hand, this probably encouraged good compliance because only one of the children interrupted the measurements.
To our knowledge, the present study is the first one with objective methods completed in the metropolitan area of Finland that has examined preschool children’s PA and the compliance with the new recommendations. It provides valuable information about how to target the interventions for the promotion of preschool children’s PA. However, further research is warranted to examine how active children are during preschool hours
compared with time out of preschool, for example at home and during hobby activities. In addition, future research should investigate whether there is significant inter-preschool or between-preschool-center variability in children’s PA and what are the possible sources. Also of interest would be to examine what children do in daycare centers or at home and how physically active they are in those actions.
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