title: Adult attention and interaction can increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in young children.
abstract: Evidence suggests that physical inactivity is prevalent among young children. To combat this, one recommendation for caregivers is to become actively involved in their child's physical activities. However, this general recommendation does not specify how or when a parent should become involved. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a functional analysis to identify a social consequence that would increase the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) exhibited by preschool-aged children, and then to compare the effects of that social consequence when it was provided contingent on MVPA and when provided independent of MVPA. The results of the functional analyses indicated that 3 of 7 children were most active when attention or interactive play was provided contingent on MVPA. Results of the intervention analysis suggested that caregivers of young children should provide attention or interactive play contingent on MVPA when those consequences are identified as reinforcers in a functional analysis.
authors.affiliation: University of the Pacific.
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zerger
authors.affiliation: University of the Pacific.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Normand
authors.affiliation: University of the Pacific.
authors.forename: Verena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boga
authors.affiliation: University of the Pacific.
authors.forename: Rutvi R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment
keywords: behavioral assessment; children; functional analysis; health; physical activity