Feasibility and Potential Efficacy of Movement-Active-Physical-Play (M.A.P.P) Physical Activity Program in New Zealand’s Early Childhood Education Centres: A Pilot Cluster-randomised Controlled Trial
Date
Authors
Pirie, Wendy
Duncan, Scott
Gibbons, Andrew
Jones, Rachel
Stewart, Tom
Harris, Nigel
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
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Journal Title
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Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Objective: To determine feasibility and potential efficacy of the M.A.P.P physical activity program in early childhood education (ECE) centres. Method: Four ECE centres were randomised to intervention (n=2) or control (n=2). Participants included 46 children (3.9 ± 0.5 years, M = 22, F = 24), 8 female leaders, and 20 female teachers. The 10-week online M.A.P.P. intervention aimed to improve physical activity (PA) levels and the quality of movement environments. Potential efficacy was assessed using accelerometry; feasibility was explored via observations and interviews. Results: Programme adherence was high (80%). Teachers, leaders and children reported M.A.P.P as enjoyable. No significant intervention effects were found for sedentary behaviour (β = 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI): [-7.00, 9.27], p=0.244), light PA (β = 11.5, 95% CI: [-0.97, 23.9], p=0.367), moderate PA (β = -10.8, 95% CI: [-22.1, 0.49], p=0.685), vigorous PA (β = -1.98, 95% CI: [-6.48, 2.51], p=0.458), moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (β = -13.5, 95% CI: [-27.1, 0.125], p=0.849). Conclusions: M.A.P.P. is feasible in ECE centres but its effects on PA require further investigation. Implications for public health: Supporting ECE teachers to promote PA may provide public health benefits in early childhood.Description
Keywords
1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1402 Applied Economics, 1605 Policy and Administration, Public Health, 4202 Epidemiology, 4203 Health services and systems, 4206 Public health, physical activity, children, early childhood education
Source
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, ISSN: 1326-0200 (Print); 1753-6405 (Online), Elsevier, 49(6), 100286-100286. doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100286
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© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Public Health Association of Australia. This article is available under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND license and permits non-commercial use of the work as published, without adaptation or alteration provided the work is fully attributed.