title: Feasibility and Effects of Short Activity Breaks for Increasing Preschool-Age Children's Physical Activity Levels.
abstract: We examined the effects of short bouts of structured physical activity (SBS-PA) implemented within the classroom setting as part of designated gross-motor playtime on preschoolers PA.
  
  
  
  Preschools were randomized to SBS-PA (centers, N = 5; participants, N = 141) or unstructured free playtime (UPA) (centers, N = 5; participants, N = 150). SBS-PA consisted of structured PA implemented in the classroom during the first 10 minutes of gross-motor playtime followed by 20 minutes of free playtime. UPA consisted of 30 minutes of unstructured free playtime. Teachers implemented both conditions for 5 days/week for 6 months. PA was assessed with accelerometers (preschool-day) and direct observation (30-minute sessions). Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the impact of the intervention.
  
  
  
  Regarding the 30-minute sessions, significant group main effects were observed for intervals spent at light (p < .001) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA, p < .001). Regarding the preschool-day PA, significant group by visit interaction was observed for percent time spent in total preschool-day MVPA (F (2, 254) = 3.54, p = .03). Percent of time spent in MVPA significantly decreased in both groups at 3 months and at 6 months.
  
  
  
  SBS-PA can be implemented in classroom settings; however, further research is needed to examine its impact on preschoolers PA levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts, 110 Totman Building, 30 Eastman Lane, Amherst, MA 01003-9258. alhassan@kin.umass.edu.
authors.forename: Sofiya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alhassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts, 110 Totman Building, 30 Eastman Lane, Amherst, MA 01003-9258. onwaokel@kin.umass.edu.
authors.forename: Ogechi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nwaokelemeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts, 110 Totman Building, 30 Eastman Lane, Amherst, MA 01003-9258. amendoza@kin.umass.edu.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts, 110 Totman Building, 30 Eastman Lane, Amherst, MA 01003-9258. sanyog30@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sanyog
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shitole
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Massachusetts, 149 Goessmann Building, Amherst, MA 01003-9258. epuleo@schoolph.umass.edu.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puleo
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, 30 W. Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824. kap@msu.edu.
authors.forename: Karin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.affiliation: Gramercy Research Group, 7990 N. Point Blvd, Suite 108, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. mwhittglover@gramercyresearch.com.
authors.forename: Melicia C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Whitt-Glover
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012574:Schools / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: activity breaks; instant recess; physical activity; preschool