Active Fundament - Fundamentally Better

Children's physical activity behavior will be objectively assessed using triaxial accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X+). Accelerometers will be worn during waking hours for seven consecutive days. Physical activity data will be processed using validated pediatric cut-points to derive average daily time spent in light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary behavior. Outcomes will be reported as mean minutes per day for each activity intensity category per measurement period.

Pedagogical actions of teachers and caretakers that support children's physical activity will be assessed using the Movement Environment Rating Scale (MOVERS). MOVERS is an observational instrument designed for early childhood education and care settings and evaluates the extent to which pedagogical practices and environmental characteristics promote physical activity and motor development. The scale consists of four domains and yields a total score ranging from 1 to 7, with higher scores indicating a more supportive physical activity environment and higher-quality pedagogical practices. Observations will be conducted during a full day in childcare and preschool settings by trained observers.

Pedagogical staff's self-reported practices related to promoting physical activity and fundamental motor skills will be assessed using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire captures frequency and type of physical activity-related pedagogical actions during the workday. Outcomes will be summarized as mean scores per domain, with higher scores indicating greater engagement in physical activity-supportive practices.

Motor competence will be assessed using the Athletic Skills Track (AST), a standardized motor competence assessment for children. The AST consists of a sequence of age-appropriate motor tasks assessing balance, coordination, agility, jumping, and running skills. Performance is expressed as total completion time in seconds, with lower times indicating better motor skill performance. Only children aged 4 years and older will be assessed.

Motor competence will be assessed using the 4 Skills Scan (4SS) test, a validated motor skill assessment for children. The 4SS evaluates four motor domains: jumping force, jumping coordination, running coordination, and object control. Each domain is scored on a standardized scale, resulting in a total score ranging from 4 to 16, with higher scores indicating better motor skill proficiency. Only children aged 4 years and older will be assessed.

Parental involvement will be assessed using a structured parent questionnaire. The questionnaire measures parental involvement across multiple domains, including involvement in the child center, support for the child's physical activity, and perceived child well-being. Domain-specific mean scores will be calculated, with higher scores indicating greater parental involvement and support. The questionnaire will be administered to parents of participating children.